PHL envoy says US reso on De Lima poses undue interference on domestic affairs

Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez on Friday hit a US Senate resolution seeking the release of detained opposition Senator Leila De Lima and the dropping of charges against journalist Maria Ressa, saying it may be potentially interpreted as "undue interference" in the country's domestic affairs.

US Senate Resolution 142 condemned the Philippine government's continued detention of De Lima and called for her immediate release.

It also censured the Philippine government for the "harassment, arrest and unjustified judicial proceedings" against the media and journalists, particularly Ressa, CEO of online news site Rappler.

"Senate Resolution 142 is ultimately unhelpful in this regard not only because it may be potentially interpreted as posing undue interference in our domestic affairs, but more importantly, because it calls on the Philippine government to pursue actions that undermine the rule of law, which is the very principle that the United States professes to uphold and stand for," Romualdez said in a statement from Washington.

The resolution is the latest effort of US officials to highlight press freedom in the Philippines and call for the release of De Lima, leading critic of President Rodrigo Duterte's deadly anti-drug crackdown, who was arrested in 2017 on drug charges.

She was charged by state prosecutors for allegedly receiving bribes from detained drug lords when she was justice secretary under former President Benigno Aquino III.

The lawmaker professed her innocence as she accused Duterte of intimidation to silence her.

Romualdez said the cases of Senator Leila De Lima and Maria Ressa are being handled "in accordance with Philippine laws and processes" and that the Philippine embassy remains open to engaging with US lawmakers and other stakeholders on this matter.

"As close, treaty allies that seek to address common challenges, the Philippines and the United States should focus on what they can do together, including capacity-building for the criminal justice system and related institutions," Romualdez said. —LDF, GMA News