MALACAÑANG on Saturday, April 21, vehemently denied the supposed plan to expel European Union's (EU) ambassadors to the Philippines.
In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. merely dismissed as "fake news" the alleged reports that the government is eyeing to kick out the bloc's envoys from the Philippines.
"[There is] fake news spreading that EU Ambassadors [are] to be expelled. [There is] absolutely no truth to this," Roque said in a text message sent to Palace reporters.
His statement came in the wake of the EU Parliament's adoption of a resolution, urging the Philippine government to put an "immediate" end to the alleged deaths associated with the brutal drug war, as well as to remove human rights defenders from its list of terrorists.
On Friday, April 20, Roque slammed the European lawmakers for "rehashing" issues that have already been "explained adequately" by the Philippine government.
The Palace official also alluded that some members of the parliament have "close ties" with the Duterte administration's political rivals, whose goal is to twist the truth that the Philippines has a "working democracy."
"We of course find it unfortunate that members of the European Parliament once again interfered with the affairs of the Philippine state, rehashing issues and bases claims that have been explained adequately by the Philippine government in several official statements," Roque said.
"We understand a number of whom have close ties with a local political opposition [groups] who try to distort realities that we have working democracy where people now enjoy peace and order," he added.
It was not the first time the Duterte government reportedly wants the diplomats of the EU to leave the Philippines for allegedly meddling in Manila's domestic affairs.
On October 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte told the European bloc's ambassadors to leave the country "in 24 hours." Duterte's harsh remark came after he was misinformed about the EU's alleged lobbying for the Philippines' removal from the United Nations.
A day after the Chief Executive's fiery pronouncement, Malacañang was quick to clarify that there was no such directive for EU envoys' expulsion in the country. (SunStar Philippines)