MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Sunday warned foreigners not to meddle in the domestic affairs of the Philippines or risk getting banned.
Panelo issued the warning after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the Bureau of immigration to ban two United States senators who pushed for the entry ban to the US of Filipino officials who are allegedly behind the detention of Sen. Leila de Lima.
U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Patrick Leahy have been urging Duterte to release De Lima, who is been detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City over alleged drug charges.
Would the government also ban foreign officials meddling in Philippine affairs?
“That goes without saying,” Panelo said in an interview over Radyo Inquirer 990 AM.
Duterte has received global censure for his brutal war on drugs, anti-criminality drive and independent foreign policy.
But the 74-year-old President remains unfazed over criticisms of his unconventional leadership style and has even threatened to pull out the membership of the Philippines from the United Nations, which has been critical of Manila’s bloody drug war and brutal criminality campaign.