President Rodrigo Duterte has imposed an embargo against United States of America (USA) Senators Patrick Leahy and Richard Durbin in entering the Philippine territory, following their introduction of the provision in the 2020 USA national budget, empowering the USA secretary of state to prohibit the entry of the Philippine government officials involved in imprisoning Senator Leila de Lima, to the USA jurisdiction. Said authority is subject to the presence of credible information on the irregularity in prosecuting de Lima.
The Malacañan stated that at the outset, there has been a basis for the lawsuit against the jailed solon, and the case underwent the proper proceedings. On this note, if the USA government carries out its ban, the Philippine state will be compelled to impose visa requirements on visiting Americans to the Philippines. The palace, moreover, mentioned that the President will issue an executive order on the matter upon necessity. “We, the Philippines, is an independent, sovereign state, and its stands in parity with all other states including the United States, and any form of pressure that is deemed or tantamount to an interference into our established justice system or other processes shall be reciprocated in accordance with our municipal law, as well as public international law or law of nations,” expressed Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo.
The Malacañan informed, finally, that the Filipino Head of State will convey its regrets on the invitation of USA President Donald Trump to conduct a visit to the USA.
