THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has barred a United States (US) delegation of lawmakers from visiting detained former senator Leila de Lima at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame.
PNP Spokesperson Colonel Jean Fajardo said the delegation should undergo “judicial process” before they will be allowed to talk with or interview any of the detained persons inside the custodial center.
In the case of De Lima, she said the delegates should secure a court order allowing them to interview or talk with her.
Fajardo said that based on initial coordination, the delegation intends to conduct inspections to check on the condition of the detention cells not only in Camp Crame but also in other detention facilities in the country on the basis of human rights.
“This (visit to De Lima) is an offshoot nung request po ng US delegation to inspect and check ‘yung mga detention facilities dito sa Pilipinas. This is not only limited sa detention facility dito sa Camp Crame at nag-coordinate po sila and in fact ‘yung ating HSS (Headquarters Support Service) is ready to brief and assist them doon sa kanilang intention para i-check ‘yung detention facility and from here pupunta din sila sa ibang detention facilities ng BJMP (Bureau of Jail Management and Penology),” said Fajardo in an interview with reporters.
“Based doon sa information na nareceive natin ay pinayagan sila tingnan ‘yung kundisyon ng detention facility but we explained to them it will be in violation nung mga security protocols and judicial protocols and processes na kumausap at mag interview sila ng persons under custody ng PNP. Pinaliwanag naman po sa kanila at naintindihan nila ito,” she added.
The US delegation includes US Senator Edward Markey, US Congressman Alan Lowenthal, John Garamendi, Don Beyer, Congresswoman Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen and US Ambassador to the Philippines Marykay Carlson.
In his request letter to De Lima dated August 8, 2022, Markey said that he and his delegation are looking forward to discussing the progress of the remaining cases filed against her, her current situation, and experiences in the more than five and a half years of her continued detention.
De Lima has been detained since 2017 over illegal drug charges.
Calls for her immediate release and dismissal of charges against her were made over the past months after several personalities who implicated her in the illegal drugs retracted their statement against her.
Their common claim is that they issued such a statement against De Lima due to the pressure from the police and ranking government officials amid the government’s drug war.
Attacks against De Lima surfaced after she sought an investigation of the alleged cases of extrajudicial killings amid the government’s controversial drug war.
Earlier, Pennsylvania Representative Susan Wild introduced an amendment to the US National Defense Authorization Act proposing that no funds should be appropriated for the provision of assistance to the PNP until it acts on human rights abuses committed by its members.
The American legislator listed down four conditions for the PNP in order for aid to continue:
*Investigated and prosecuted members of the PNP who violated human rights, ensured that police personnel cooperated with judicial authorities in such cases and affirmed that such violations have ceased
*Established that the PNP would protect the rights of journalists, trade unionists, human rights defenders, critics of the government, religious and activists to operate without interference
*Taken steps to guarantee a judicial system capable of investigating and prosecuting members of the police and military who have committed human rights abuses
*Fully compliant with national and US audits and probe on proper use of prior security assistance