Palace official slams EU Parliament for ‘intrusion’

MANILA—Presidential chief legal counsel Salvador Panelo on Friday assailed the European Parliament for intruding in Philippine state affairs and called on the assembly to mind its own business.

The EU Parliament, through a resolution issued Thursday, has called for the immediate release of Sen. Leila de Lima, to drop all politically motivated charges against her and to end any further acts of harassment against her.

The same resolution also called on Philippine officials to “immediately halt ongoing proceedings to reinstate the death penalty.”

Panelo branded the EU Parliament resolution as “foreign intrusion” and said that the assembly cannot impose their demands on Philippine officials.

“They (EU Parliament) cannot dictate on the Philippine government on what to do with its constituents facing criminal charges nor can they interfere with the judicial processes of our country,” he said in a statement.

“Neither can they demand our government to the performance of an act. That is foreign interference. They should mind their own business,” Panelo said.

The EU Parliament resolution came three weeks after De Lima was arrested on drug-related charges.

It also came just three days after the House of Representatives approved the death penalty bill on third and final reading.