Palace blames HRW report, Robredo video for EU parliament 'threats'
Malacañang on Friday blamed an alleged destabilization campaign against President Rodrigo Duterte's administration for the recent moves of the European Union parliament criticizing the Philippines.
“This campaign has provoked abrupt reaction and unwarranted threats from the European Union, spooked by the so-called ‘rights reports’ from high-handed NGOs; and a video at the UN that baselessly pillories the Philippine National Police,” said presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella, in apparent reference to a Human Rights Watch report decrying police involvement in killings of drug suspects as well as a recent video by Vice President Leni Robredo to the United Nations detailing government abuses.
The European Union Parliament on Thursday adopted a resolution calling on the Philippines to set free Senator Leila De Lima, a vocal critic of Duterte who has been jailed because of drug allegations. The organization also called on the Philippines to investigate its drug war.
The legislative body also floated the idea of re-adjusting a trade incentive with the Philippine government. The parliamentarians urged the European Commission to "persuade the Philippines to put an end to extrajudicial killings related to the anti-drug campaign including, in the absence of any substantive improvements in the next few months, procedural steps with a view to the possible removal of GSP + preferences."
Abella, who has previously contended that De Lima is not a political prisoner, also linked the impeachment case against Duterte filed by Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano on Thursday as part of the destabilization plot.
“Rep. Alejano’s impeachment filing is only the latest in an orchestrated effort of a well-funded destabilization campaign against President Rodrigo Duterte. That Alejano filed his case on the last day of the Congressional session, secures him a whole month and a half to malign President Duterte without being challenged by fellow legislators,” he said.
Abella added that those who wanted Duterte out were just trying to protect their own interests, which had been affected by the President’s campaign against criminality.
“The instigators of this cynical campaign include senators and higher officials who attack the very institutions fighting the crime and contraband that tripled during their term. These are apparently desperate acts to protect their threatened vested interests,” he said. —JST, GMA News
Source:GMA News
“This campaign has provoked abrupt reaction and unwarranted threats from the European Union, spooked by the so-called ‘rights reports’ from high-handed NGOs; and a video at the UN that baselessly pillories the Philippine National Police,” said presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella, in apparent reference to a Human Rights Watch report decrying police involvement in killings of drug suspects as well as a recent video by Vice President Leni Robredo to the United Nations detailing government abuses.
The European Union Parliament on Thursday adopted a resolution calling on the Philippines to set free Senator Leila De Lima, a vocal critic of Duterte who has been jailed because of drug allegations. The organization also called on the Philippines to investigate its drug war.
The legislative body also floated the idea of re-adjusting a trade incentive with the Philippine government. The parliamentarians urged the European Commission to "persuade the Philippines to put an end to extrajudicial killings related to the anti-drug campaign including, in the absence of any substantive improvements in the next few months, procedural steps with a view to the possible removal of GSP + preferences."
Abella, who has previously contended that De Lima is not a political prisoner, also linked the impeachment case against Duterte filed by Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano on Thursday as part of the destabilization plot.
“Rep. Alejano’s impeachment filing is only the latest in an orchestrated effort of a well-funded destabilization campaign against President Rodrigo Duterte. That Alejano filed his case on the last day of the Congressional session, secures him a whole month and a half to malign President Duterte without being challenged by fellow legislators,” he said.
Abella added that those who wanted Duterte out were just trying to protect their own interests, which had been affected by the President’s campaign against criminality.
“The instigators of this cynical campaign include senators and higher officials who attack the very institutions fighting the crime and contraband that tripled during their term. These are apparently desperate acts to protect their threatened vested interests,” he said. —JST, GMA News
Source:GMA News
