Lagman: US senators’ call for travel ban vs De Lima jailers doesn’t intrude PH sovereignty, It is their 'sole prerogative'

Rep. Edcel Lagman/photo courtesy of Manila Bulletin

Albay Representative Edcel Lagman gave his comment on the issue on the US government officials' decision to deny entry of Filipino officials involved in the imprisonment of Senator Leila De Lima into the US territory.

He said, that the said move is just “an enforcement of American immigration laws and does not intrude into Philippine sovereignty.”

Lagman added that the decision to allow or disallow any foreign national from entering a country’s territory is every country’s “unlimited sole prerogative.”

“The implementation of an immigration policy belongs to the host State’s exclusive sovereign jurisdiction,” Lagman said in a statement.

“The basis of such exclusionary act of sovereignty is beyond question by other governments or parties,” he added.

This is the result of the decision of the US Senate committee’s approval of an amendment that would prohibit entry of any Philippine officials involved in the detention of De Lima, who has been in jail since February of 2017 over her alleged involvement in drug activities.

This made Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo slammed the US’ decision to “place pressure” on the country’s “independent institutions thereby effectively interfering with our nation’s sovereignty.”

“It is an insult to the competence and capacity of our duly constituted authorities as such act makes it appear that this US Senate panel has the monopoly of what is right and just. It is an outright disrespect to our people’s clamor for law and order,” Panelo said.

Furthermore, Lagman said, “It is the Philippine officials who are assailing as meddling the US Senate panel’s action who are the ones interfering in the exercise of American sovereign right.”

“The freedom of public discourse allows officials of one country to criticize or even condemn the acts of officials of another country for genuinely perceived or actual violations of civil, political and human rights of the latter’s own citizens,” Lagman added.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III gave his side on the issue he said US Senators Richard Durbin and Patrick Leahy, who proposed the said amendment, violated their own Constitution when they pushed for the travel ban on Filipino officials.

On the other hand, Senator Bong Go said he will also ask President Rodrigo Duterte to likewise ban the American senators who pushed for the said amendment.

Source: Inquirer