EU Parliament backs resolution calling to set De Lima free

The European Parliament has approved the joint resolution filed by parliamentarians calling for the release of Senator Leila de Lima and review of the Duterte administration's war on drugs, GMA News' Jam Sisante reported on "Saksi."

The joint resolution that was submitted by several political groups within European Parliament also called for adequate security and fair trial for De Lima, as they urged the dismissal of the charges against her which they said were "politically motivated." It also said the European Union should closely monitor the case.

The parliamentarians condemned the extrajudicial killings in the country as they called on the Philippine government to focus its anti-illegal drugs campaign to large-scale drug trafficking rather than going after small-scale consumers, and to build rehabilitation centers.

In expressing "grave concern over credible reports to the effect that the Philippine police force is falsifying evidence to justify extrajudicial killings, and that overwhelmingly the urban poor are those being targeted," the European Parliament also called on Philippine authorities to conduct "impartial and meaningful investigations" and bring perpetrators to justice. It also urged the European Union to support such investigations.

Noting President Rodrigo Duterte's threat to declare martial law in Mindanao following the alleged killing by the New People's Army of four police officers in Davao on March 8, the European Parliament strongly urged "Philippine authorities and military to strictly adhere to international humanitarian law which places specific strictures on all parties to an armed conflict to spare civilians and non-combatants."

UN probe, death penalty

In the same resolution adopted, the European Parliament also called on the European Union "to support the establishment at the UN Human Rights Council of an independent international investigation into unlawful killings and other violations by the Philippines in the context of President Duterte's 'war on drugs.'"

The legislators also said the Philippines should halt proceedings to reinstate death penalty and refrain from lowering the minimum age for criminal responsibility.

They also said the EU should "use all available instruments" to help the Philippine government uphold international human rights obligations, "notably through the Framework Agreement."

Trade incentive

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."

The GSP+ or Generalized Scheme of Preferences plus refers to a special incentive agreement for Sustainable Development and Good Governance.

According to the EU website, the scheme is an instrument of the EU trade policy which aims to encourage third countries to comply with core international standards in the areas of human rights, labor rights, environmental protection and good governance.

In the same joint resolution, European Parliament President Antonio Tajani was also instructed to submit a copy to the "Government and Parliament of the Philippines, the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Council, the Commission, the parliaments and governments of the member-states, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the governments of the ASEAN member states." 

On Thursday, senior members of President Duterte's Cabinet urged the European Parliament to respect the circumstances that led to the arrest of De Lima over drug-related cases.

"They simply have a misunderstanding of what's happening to De Lima. The lady is being charged with crime, not political persuasions. So, I think they ought to respect that," presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said at a press briefing.

Abella also assured the European Parliament that the drug charges against De Lima were not politically motivated.

For his part, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said the European Union has no right to look into the issue.

"The EU has no right to do that. One country cannot question the act of another for it violates the sovereignty of the latter," Aguirre said in a text message. — KG/RSJ, GMA News