CALD Resolution No. 3 S. 2017

CALD resolution expressing strong concern on the continuing detention of Philippine Senator Leila de Lima

The Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD):

Aware that on 26 August 2016, CALD passed a resolution “condemning in strongest terms the spate of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines, and calling on the Philippine government to publicly condemn and investigate summary executions and to bring to justice the perpetrators of such deplorable acts”;

Mindful that in a follow-up resolution on 25 February 2017, CALD expressed alarm on ‘creeping authoritarianism’ in the Philippines as a consequence of its continuing war on drugs;

Cognizant that in the same resolution, CALD expressed strong concerns on the arrest and detention of Philippine Senator Leila de Lima “based solely on conflicting testimonies of criminals who were subsequently absolved of drug charges after they agreed to be prosecution witnesses, and calls for the immediate review of the charges against Senator de Lima”;

Mindful that Senator de Lima remains to be in the detention facility of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center while the petition questioning her arrest is pending in the Supreme Court;

Concerned that seemingly orchestrated, misogynistic attacks on Senator de Lima, which are meant to destroy her reputation, dignity and womanhood, continue unabated even now that she is in detention;

Aware that the delegates to the CALD Women’s Caucus Conference who assembled in Taipei, Taiwan on 11-12 August 2017, having been informed of the situation of Senator de Lima, came to an agreement to draw international attention to her case;

Hereby:

Reiterates its strongest condemnation of extra-judicial killings that mark the Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs, which reportedly took the lives of thousands of people to date, including innocent children and civilians;

Denounces President Duterte’s statements which appear to support extra-judicial killings by promising to shield law enforcement officers from prosecution for following his orders to neutralize drug suspects;

Reaffirms its position that the arrest and detention of Senator de Lima rest on questionable grounds, and “could be part of the Duterte administration’s political vendetta against her, given her staunch opposition to extra-judicial killings”;

Implores the Supreme Court to conduct its hearings on Senator de Lima’s petition in accordance with her constitutional right to speedy, impartial and public trial;

Appeals to the Philippine Senate to allow Senator de Lima to fully carry out her duties as a duly elected Senator of the Republic, including the right to cast her vote on legislative bills;

Commends Senator de Lima’s strong will and dedication to fulfill her responsibilities as a legislator and as an opposition politician, even while in detention, by regularly issuing handwritten notes expressing her position on national issues and legislative bills;

Laments the continuing vilification of Senator de Lima in mainstream and social media, particularly the attacks on her womanhood, which appears to be part of a well-orchestrated, well-funded campaign to malign her character; and

Reiterates its call for Filipinos and the international community to remain vigilant against ‘creeping authoritarianism’ in the Philippines, and to denounce continuing violations of fundamental human rights, the rule of law and basic civility, as well as the disregard of democratic institutions and processes.

For the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats:

Abhisit Vejjajiva
CALD Chairperson

Kiat Sittheeamorn
CALD Secretary General

16 August 2017

Categorised in: Resolutions

This post was written by CALD