EU MPs visit De Lima on eve of 6th anniversary in detention

The delegation of European Parliament members of its subcommittee on human rights visited former Senator Leila De Lima at the PNP Custodial Center on Thursday, the eve of the sixth anniversary of her detention on drug charges.

The EU members who visited De Lima were Isabel Wiseler-Lima, Karsten Lucke, Hannah Neumann, Silvia Sardone, Ryszard Czarnecki, Miguel Urban Crespo, and Ana Isabel Sànchez Ruiz.

Visitors from political groups included Hugo Van Der Werff, Anna Ksiazczakova, Raphael Fisera, Federico Martegani, Joanna Rejdych, and Ana Vicente Moreno.

Four interpreters joined them.

The visit was endorsed by the Department of Foreign Affairs thru a Note Verbale sent by the Office of European Affairs signed by Ms. Rosario O. Lemque, Officer-in-Charge.

During the EP Subcommittee on Human Rights meeting on June 15, 2022, lawmakers and officials expressed concern over De Lima’s detention.

In a television interview, Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa took a swipe at the EU Parliament members, saying they came to the Philippines "acting as world police."

"Nakatulong yun in [a] sense na naconfirm ko talaga na sila ay parang they are acting as world police," Dela Rosa said in an ANC interview.

The lawmaker said the visiting parliament members should know how to deal with people.

"Parang sarado na yung utak nila. Ako nakita ko, they don't come here to consult us and to know the real situation and to know the truth but they came here as world police na para bang di niyo dapat gawin ito, ito dapat ang gawin niyo. Otherwise, yung ganito yung mga general preference scheme of preference na yan ay mawawala sa inyo parang ganon ganon ba parang tinatakot tayo na ganon," he said referring to Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) Plus.

"'Yon ang dating sa akin ha personal. Forgive me if I misinterpreted their actions pero ang dating sa akin parang ganon," he added.

Asked if he will go to the EU if invited, Dela Rosa answered in the negative, reiterating that the parliament members are close-minded. —with a report from Hana Bordey/NB, GMA Integrated News