International body to look into ‘persecution’ of two PHL senators

THE INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION (IPU) wants to send an official mission to the Philippines to look into the alleged “political persecution” of Senators Leila M. De Lima and Antonio F. Trillanes IV.

The requests were raised in separate resolutions adopted at the 139th IPU assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, on Oct. 18. The international body noted that the situation of the two senators warranted an “urgent visit” by the Committee on Human Rights of Parliamentarians.

With regards to Mr. Trillanes, the IPU expressed deep concerns that the senator “may soon be arrested” over charges which ran “counter to the legal principle that no one shall be tried twice for the same offense.”

It also pointed out the “exclusive preoccupation” of the presidential proclamation that voided Mr. Trillanes’s 2011 amnesty and gave “serious weight to the allegation that this is a targeted attempt to silence Senator Trillanes.”

IPU also decided to send a trial observer to close monitor the legal proceedings if this complied with international fair trial guarantees.

With regards to Ms. De Lima, IPU reiterated its call for the senator’s release and for the government to abandon the legal proceedings against her, “given that no serious evidence appears to be forthcoming.”

The international body also urged the Senate, under the new leadership of Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III, to act in solidarity with Ms. De Lima.

“(IPU) reaffirms that the Senate has a special responsibility to help ensure that its colleagues participate in its deliberations and speak out when they face reprisals for their work,” the resolution stated.

It also urged the Supreme Court to grant her occasional “legislative furlough.”

Both resolutions also pointed out that Filipino legislative authorities have not responded to IPU’s requests for information on the respective situation of the two senators.

Mr. Trillanes is still awaiting the decision of the Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 150 regarding the Department of Justice’s (DoJ) motion for arrest against the senator in connection with his rebellion case.

Ms. De Lima was detained in February 2017 for what the government said was her involvement in the illegal drug trading at the National Bilibid Prison (NBP) when she was justice secretary.