A resolution rebuking some members of the United States Congress for interfering with the country’s judicial process has been filed at the Senate.
Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III, along with Senators Panfilo M. Lacson and Gregorio “Gringo” B. Honasan II, have filed Philippine Senate Resolution 1037, which expresses the strong sense of the Senate to rebuke two US resolutions for being an “affront to the sovereignty” of the Philippines and an “undue interference” on its judicial process.
The proposed US resolutions called on the Philippine government to free detained Sen. Leila M. de Lima and drop charges against online new site Rappler chief executive officer Maria Ressa.
“(I)t is submitted that the said Resolutions are highly inappropriate and unbefitting, considering that the Philippines is no longer a vassal or a colony of the United States of America but a sovereign state and a member of the family of nations governed by its own municipal laws and the generally accepted principles of international law,” the Philippine Senate resolution read.
“Contrary to the assertions of the members of the US Congress in their respective resolutions, the Philippine Government adheres to the observance of the principle that ours is a nation governed by laws and not of men as stated and guaranteed by no less than the Preamble of the 1987 Philippine Constitution,” it added.
In a text message, Lacson said he hopes the measure will reach the US Congress once approved in plenary.
“At this point, it is hard to second guess if the minority bloc will support the adoption of the said resolution. SP Sotto, Sen. Honasan, and myself saw it fit to express our sense to call out the US legislators and remind them that we are no longer their colony after July 4, 1946,” Lacson said.
“Once approved in plenary, even if it’s not transmitted officially to Capitol Hill, I’m sure those concerned will find out about it, either through the US Embassy or media,” Lacson added. (PNA and Mario Casayuran)
