MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has slammed opposition Sen. Leila de Lima’s move to come up with a detailed list of individuals that she claimed are behind her detention and should be banned from the United States, saying she herself should be in the list for spreading “lies.”
De Lima’s chief of staff Fhillip Sawali recently said the detained senator is drawing up a “comprehensive” list of officials and private individuals responsible for her “wrongful” detention in 2017. Persons included in the list may be barred from entering the US if an amendment to the 2020 US budget signed recently by President Donald Trump is implemented.
A “Prohibition on Entry” provision in the US Congress’ omnibus bill allows the US secretary of state to apply sub-section (c) to foreign government officials about whom the secretary has “credible information” have been involved in De Lima’s imprisonment. The sub-section pertains to the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which authorizes the US government to slap sanctions on persons tied to human rights violations, including disallowing them from entering the US.
“She (De Lima) should put herself on the top list plus (former senator and administration critic Antonio) Trillanes (IV) and others who have been peddling lies to the outside world,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a text message over the weekend.
Panelo claimed De Lima, in jail on charges that she accepted bribes from convicted members of drug syndicates, is just trying to make herself relevant.
“If I were you, you should ignore her nonsense. She is just using you people to become relevant while in detention. You continue to give her attention and she is very happy about it,” the Palace spokesman said.
“As far we are concerned, she is an irrelevant political entity,” he added.
Individuals accused by De Lima of being behind her arrest and detention include President Duterte, Panelo, former House speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, former justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, Solicitor General Jose Calida, Public Attorney’s Office chief Persida Acosta, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office board member Sandra Cam, Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission chairman Dante Jimenez, Rep. Rey Umali, former congressman Rudy Fariñas, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration deputy executive director and blogger Mocha Uson and bloggers RJ Nieto Sass Rogando Sasot.
Duterte has responded to the entry ban by barring US senators Richard Durbin of Illinois and Patrick Leahy of Vermont, authors of the budget amendment, and Sen. Edward Markey of Massachusetts, supporter of the provision, from entering the Philippines. The administration has also threatened to require Americans to secure a visa before entering the Philippines if the entry ban is enforced.
The list, according to De Lima, was already being finalized.
De Lima likened her making the list to the one made by “Arya,” a character in the hit HBO series “Game of Thrones” who listed the names of those responsible for the persecution of her family.