De Lima among world’s 187 ‘persecuted’ MPs, says IPU
Published on: Sunday, May 19, 2019
MANILA: Detained Sen Leila de Lima is among 187 “persecuted members of parliament” from around the world, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has said as it renewed its call for the lawmaker’s release.
In a statement, De Lima’s office said the IPU, a global organisation of national parliaments, adopted a resolution in April “urging the Philippine government to drop all politically-motivated charges against De Lima that were based on unsubstantiated statements of convicted felons.”
ADVERTISEMENT
It cited IPU’s statement that read: “In the Philippines, the IPU remains concerned that, more than two years after her arrest, Senator Leila de Lima is still in detention despite the absence of any corroborated evidence to justify the charges against her.”
“The IPU calls on the authorities to release her immediately and for the legal proceedings against her to be dropped,” the IPU said.
Malacañang had rejected this call, citing the IPU’s alleged bias for De Lima and her fellow administration critic, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.
The IPU asserted that the Duterte administration should allow its representative “to monitor the legality and fairness of any trial proceedings” against De Lima.
ADVERTISEMENT
It had resolved to do this in October 2017 and, a year later, sought to send an official mission to the Philippines to check on De Lima’s case.
De Lima, a former human rights commissioner and justice secretary, said she hopes that the government “can finally realise that the IPU is merely appealing to the sense of fairness and justice of the court to get a fair view of my case.”
ADVERTISEMENT
An IPU delegation visited De Lima in May 2017.
The IPU said 84 percent of 187 “persecuted” members of parliament are opposition members, and that out of those experiencing human rights violations, 25 per cent are women.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
