MANILA was up in arms Friday over a European Parliament resolution calling for the release of Sen. Leila de Lima from detention, with Philippine officials condemning it as an unwarranted intrusion into internal affairs. Senate President Aquilino Pimentel 3rd led the charge and told European Union (EU) lawmakers to “mind their own business.”“The EU Parliament should know its place in the world. The resolution was adopted in a plenary sitting by the European Parliament, which noted that EU-Philippines ties go back to 1964, when the bloc was still known as the European Economic Community. Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said those who have been pushing for the European Parliament resolution for de Lima’s release have a “misunderstanding of what’s happening to [her].”“The lady is being charged with crime – not political persuasions,” Abella said. Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo likewise denounced the EU Parliament resolution.

Source: Manila Times March 17, 2017 16:30 UTC