De Lima praises US Congress for reviving PH human rights bill
Opposition Senator Leila de Lima on Sunday welcomed the reintroduction of a Philippine human rights measure in the United States Congres, saying this development will prove to the Duterte government of the great consequences to its blatant disregard for human rights and rule of law.
The reintroduction of the Philippine Human Rights Act to the US Congress happened just a few hours short of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) announcement of opening of a full investigation into the killings under Duterte’s drug war.
The detained senator, a known human rights activist, thanked Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District Representative Susan Wild for filing H.R. 3884, which seeks to promote human rights in the Philippines by suspending the provision of security assistance to the country until the government has made human rights-related reforms to its military and police forces.
“The US lawmakers’ steadfast resolve to ensure that the laws of the land and the internationally accepted principles and standards on human rights are respected, protected and promoted in the Philippines is truly remarkable,” De Lima said.
“This bill shows this government that there are great consequences to its blatant disregard for human rights and the rule of law and that Duterte should finally rethink his approach to his murderous and fake drug war,” she stressed.
Wild first filed the bill in 2020; it has been referred to the US House Committees on Foreign Affairs and Financial Services.
Under the measure, the US lawmaker seeks to block assistance to Philippine security forces until such time it complies with human rights standards.
“This bill makes a common sense proposition. Standing up for human rights requires more than rhetoric, it requires action,” the US lawmaker said.
Amid the human rights situation in the Philippines, De Lima said approval of such bill in the US could play a crucial role in the fight for democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in the country.
“I thank US Rep. Wild and the 13 other US lawmakers who co-sponsored H.R. 3884 for pushing this bill, which, along with the recent development on the ICC’s drug war investigation, prove that the world never stopped watching and that Duterte should stop promoting violence and killings,” De Lima said.