Palace hits IPU bullying over Leila cases

Malacañang frowned yesterday on the plan of the InterParliamentary Union (IPU) to send an observer when Sen. Leila de Lima will be tried on drug-related cases, with Communications Secretary Martin Andanar branding the move as a form of bullying and meddling into domestic affairs. “The IPU’s recommendation to send an observer to monitor the case of Sen. Leila de Lima is a classic example of bullying,” Andanar said in a statement.

Taking a cue from President Duterte who has lambasted the UN, the US and the European Union for expressing their strong sentiments against the administration’s war on illegal drugs, he accused the IPU of “meddling” in the country’s democratic processes.

“We should stand up to this kind of meddling into our domestic affairs. Their intent is not to merely observe De Lima’s trial by our laws, but to meddle in our democratic as well as judicial processes,” Andanar said.

Over and over, Andanar said the pronouncements from the IPU “portray the Philippines as a lawless nation when there is abundant evidence to the contrary.”

The delegation of the IPU’s human rights committee has recommended the need for an observer after visiting the Philippines to check on the status of De Lima and to look into the alleged extrajudicial killings under the Duterte administration.

The IPU aired its concern over the statements of Duterte, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II and other officials critical of De Lima that tend to portray her as guilty even before the trial has started.