Senate minority leader Franklin Drilon said on Friday the government should not ignore the bill that seeks to suspend the security aid given by the United States (US) to the Philippines.
(Senate of the Philippines / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
“I do not know how serious it is.But certainly, the government should not just brush it aside,” Drilon said in an interview over CNN Philippines.
Drilon said this development only shows that the US House of Representatives is aware of the human rights violations happening in the country.
“It only means that the US Congress is conscious and aware of what is happening here,” the Senate minority chief said.
“Whether or not the bill will pass Congress and is signed by the President, I do not know. But certainly, we could not brush this aside,” Drilon insisted.
The proposal, which was filed by Democratic Rep. Susan Wild of Pennsylvania, primarily seeks to “suspend the provision of security assistance to the Philippines until the government of the Philippines has made certain reforms to the military and police forces and for other purposes.”
Malacañang, in response, shrugged off Wild’s suggestion as “very wild” and said that the measure has a “very slim” chance of becoming a law.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson, however, said the suspension of US security assistance will not only be a loss to the Philippine government but will also be America’s loss.
Lacson also said US lawmakers must take into account the existing Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the two countries when they deliberate on the bill.
“They may have to resolve that as a legal issue in their deliberations,” Lacson said.