Palace slams US senator Durbin's 'incorrigible nonsense'

Malacañang on Friday scored US Senator Richard Durbin for calling President Rodrigo Duterte an autocratic leader as the American lawmaker insisted on the release of opposition Senator Leila De Lima from detention.

Durbin, in a speech on the Senate floor on Wednesday, urged the Philippine government to give De Lima a "quick and credible" trial instead of threatening the travel of Filipino-Americans with visa requirements.

He also said De Lima, who is facing drug charges, must be released, adding her case was an important test on whether Duterte respects democratic norms.

“Calling the President of the Republic of the Philippines autocratic, by reason of a Philippine senator's detention, which was pursuant to - and in obedience of - Philippine substantive and procedural law, is offensive and a shameful display of illiteracy in the science of governance,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.

“Autocracy has no place in this Republic.”

Panelo added Durbin’s remarks only exposed the American lawmaker’s “abject ignorance of what due process is” and a nation’s sovereignty.

He also said Durbin’s demand for the release of De Lima was “a brazen interference and an assault to our sovereignty as it interferes with our judicial process.”

“In addition, his remarks not only violate the principle of subjudice but it also assails the ongoing proceedings thereby trampling upon the rights of the People of the Philippines,” Panelo said.

“This will be the last time that the Office of the President will address any other intrusive and incorrigible nonsense from Senator Durbin.”

Durbin is one of the three US senators banned by Duterte from visiting the Philippines which came after the US Congress approved a 2020 budget that contains a provision introduced by the senators against anyone involved in De Lima’s incarceration. —KBK, GMA News