Suarez supports Arroyo’s push for PH withdrawal from IPU

FILE: Minority Leader Danilo Suarez (Photo: Congressman Danilo E. Suarez/Facebook)

Minority Leader Danilo Suarez filed a resolution backing the recommendation of the House of Representatives for the Philippines to withdraw its membership from the Geneva-based Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

Suarez filed House Resolution (HR) No. 2270 on Tuesday, October 22, a day after House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo suggested the Philippines’ withdrawal from the global parliamentary community as she noted its “interference” in the country’s judicial processes. A copy of his resolution was only sent to media on Wednesday, October 24.

Arroyo, an ally of President Rodrigo Duterte, made the proposal following the IPU’s decision to send an “official mission” to the Philippines to look into the supposed “political persecution” of the Duterte administration’s staunchest critics, detained Senator Leila de Lima and Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV.

In his resolution, Suarez said the IPU “stepped outside its boundaries with its interference in the country’s judicial processes which runs counter to the principle of State sovereignty.”

“Therefore, be it resolved as it is hereby resolved, for the House of Representatives to express its support for the withdrawal of the membership of the Philippines from the Inter-Parliamentary Union,” he added.

The Palace has earlier expressed its support on Arroyo’s pullout call, saying that the IPU has been “besmirching” the country by coming up to conclusions without even conducting a prior investigation.

“They came here and investigated De Lima, and I think si Senator Trillanes [too]. And then they made a finding that it seems to them that there was a violation of human rights, that no due process was given to them. And yet—in effect, they’re saying that our judicial system is not functioning,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.

“They’ve been giving pre-judgments. And to our mind, that’s an intrusion, an insult, offensive to the decency of this country, as well as an intrusion to our sovereignty,” he added.

While Malacañang backs Arroyo’s recommendation, several senators, however, have opposing opinions regarding the matter.