News Roundup 29 December 2019
Dec 29, 2019 • 2 min Read
BREAKING: Palace says entry ban of PH officials in US is ‘true’ | INQUIRER.NET – Malacanang has confirmed the entry ban in the United States of Philippine officials believed to have had a hand in the detention of Opposition Senator Leila de Lima, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Sunday. In an interview over Radyo Inquirer 990 AM, Panelo said Philippine Ambassador to the US, Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez confirmed that such provision was in effect after US President Donald Trump signed their country’s 2020 budget.
Free De Lima instead of threatening visa restrictions, US senator says | PHILSTAR.COM – US Sen. Patrick Leahy, who is banned from entering the country, said the Philippine government should free detained Sen. Leila De Lima “or provide her [a] fair, public trial” instead of threatening visa restrictions on visiting US citizens. “Rather than responding by irrationally threatening to deny visas to American citizens, the Duterte government should either release Senator De Lima immediately or provide her the fair, public trial she is entitled to,” Leahy said in a statement on Sunday.
President Duterte to lead 123rd Rizal Day event in Davao City | Manila Bulletin – President Duterte will be leading the commemoration of the 123rd death anniversary of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal in Davao City Monday morning. Senator Go said “He decided to celebrate here in his hometown because he will be going to the earthquake victims in M’lang and Digos City Davao del Sur.”
PNP denies human rights violations in drug war | The Manila Times – The Philippine National Police (PNP) does not violate human rights in the government’s war on drugs, PNP Officer in Charge Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa said on Saturday. “We do not admit that there [have been violations of] human rights in our police operations,” Gamboa told reporters in a chance interview.
