Palace: IPU’s ‘one-sided evaluations’ an ‘affront’ to PH

Malacañang has spurned the “one-sided evaluations” made by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) on the Philippines’ domestic affairs, and considered the group’s resolutions “an affront to the core of our State’s principles.”

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the IPU’s assessments on the government’s cases against staunch Duterte administration critics, Senators Leila De Lima and Antonio Trillanes IV, was an intrusion to the country’s autonomy.

“The Office of the President considers the resolutions adopted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), as well as its subsequent decisions on the cases of Senator Leila de Lima and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV during its 139th Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, as an affront to the core of our State’s principles,” Panelo said in a statement on Monday.

“We consider such actions as interventions of our domestic affairs for they do not only show the Philippines in a bad light in front of the global community but worse, such one-sided evaluations infringe on our sovereignty,” he added.

On Sunday, the Geneva-based organization of national parliaments voiced its concern over the alleged human rights violations against De Lima, who is currently detained on drug charges, and Trillanes, whose amnesty was revoked by President Rodrigo Duterte and awaiting court decision on his likely detention.

READ: Parliamentarians’ union to probe cases of De Lima, Trillanes

The IPU called for De Lima’s release, and hoped the Senate will act in solidarity with her.

On the other hand, the IPU raised concern over the issues being faced by Trillanes following Mr. Duterte’s issuance of Proclamation No. 572, which voided his amnesty.

“It is apparent that this organization of foreign parliamentarians does not respect the ongoing proceedings being conducted by our courts of justice when it reached an incredible conclusion on the cases,” Panelo said of the IPU’s evaluations on the cases of De Lima and Trillanes.

“The act of publishing its findings even before conducting its intended probe already exposes how biased this organization is,” he also said.

Panelo defended government’s move to detain De Lima, pointing out that it “stemmed from a warrant issued by an independent and competent court which found probable cause that she may have committed the crime charged while she was the Justice Secretary.”

Panel also defended Proclamation No. 572, which he said was “anchored on legal justifications.”

Panelo, who is also Mr. Duterte’s chief legal counsel, stressed that the country’s justice system remains “independent, effective, and functioning” and certainly does not need “directives from strangers.”

“The wheels of justice have started to grind, and the two lawmakers have been accorded due process and would continue to be given their respective days in court. Having said this, our State does not need guidance or directives from strangers. We can do well on our own,” he said.  /kga