U.S. Senate OKs reso calling for De Lima release, sanctions for jailers

MANILA, Philippines — The U.S. Senate on Thursday (Manila time) passed a resolution calling for the immediate release of Senator Leila de Lima and the imposition of sanctions against her jailers.

According to the official website of the U.S. Congress, the resolution was “agreed to in Senate with an amendment and an amended preamble by Voice Vote.”

It called on President Donald Trump to impose sanctions pursuant to the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act to members of the security forces and officials of the Government of the Philippines responsible for extrajudicial killings and Philippine government officials responsible for “orchestrating” De Lima’s “arrest and prolonged detention.”

The Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act allows the US to impose sanctions—including denying of travel visas and the freezing and forfeiture of US assets—to foreigners proven to have committed human rights violations or acts of significant corruption.

It also called on the Philippine government to “drop all charges against” De Lima and to allow her to “fully discharge her legislative mandate.”

The recently passed resolution is apart from a provision in the 2020 national budget of the U.S. which seeks similar sanctions against those proven to be responsible for De Lima’s imprisonment.