The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the Philippines – the case of Senator Leila M. De Lima.
The text adopted in plenary was tabled by the EPP, S&D, ECR, ALDE, GUE/NGL, Greens/EFA and EFDD groups.
Members called for the immediate release of Senator Leila M. De Lima, human rights advocate and the highest profile critic of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign and member of the opposition Liberal party.
Arrested in February 2017 on charges of alleged drug-related offences, Senator De Lima could face a sentence from 12 years up to life in prison and be expelled from the Senate.
Parliament condemned the high number of extrajudicial killings (more than 7 000) by the armed forces and vigilante groups related to the anti-drug campaign. It called on the authorities of the Philippines to immediately carry out impartial and meaningful investigations into these extrajudicial killings and to prosecute and bring all perpetrators to justice.
While strongly condemning drug trafficking and drug abuse in the Philippines, Members called on the Government to prioritise the fight against trafficking networks and drug barons over tracking down small-scale consumers. It also called on the authorities of the Philippines to immediately halt ongoing proceedings to reinstate the death penalty.
Parliament called on the European Union to: