MANILA, Philippines — “Solidarity my foot!”
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III wrote this in a Twitter post on Thursday, in response to those who claimed that the two US resolutions calling for Senator Leila de Lima’s release were done in “solidarity” and should not be considered as foreign intervention.
“Did they do that for frmr SP Enrile and sens Revilla n Estrada? Ok then let’s file a reso telling the US to allow all immigrants into their country. Solidarity yun,” Sotto added.
The Senate leader was referring to former Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., and Jinggoy Estrada, who were all detained over the so-called “pork barrel” scam.
Revilla was already acquitted by Sandiganbayan while Enrile and Estrada are out on bail. All three senators are now seeking a comeback in the Senate.
Sotto’s remark was an apparent response to opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros’ statement on Senate Resolution No. 1037 that he, Senator Panfilo Lacson, and Senator Gringo Honasan filed Wednesday.
In the resolution, Sotto, Lacson, and Honasan expressed the “strong sense” of the Philippine Senate “ to rebuke” the US resolutions for being an “affront” to the country’s sovereignty and an “undue interference on its judicial process.”
US House Resolution No. 233 and US Senate Resolution No. 142 condemned the Philippine government for its “continued detention” of De Lima and called for her immediate release.
Resolution No. 142 also sought the dropping of charges against Rappler and its chief Maria Ressa.
“Huwag nating i-confuse ang international solidarity sa foreign intervention,” Hontiveros said in a statement, reacting to the resolution of her colleagues in the Senate.
“Tayo sa Pilipinas, naniniwala tayo sa usapin ng due process, usapin ng freedom of the press. Tingin ko, dapat maging bukas tayo dyan,” she added.
At this point, Lacson could not say if their resolution would get the support of the minority bloc in the Senate.
He said they nevertheless saw it fit to call out the US lawmakers and remind them that the Philippines is no longer the colony of the US after July 4, 1946.
“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 thru the US embassy or media,” Lacson said in a text message. /je