MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines would require Americans to secure visas before entering the country after Washington effectively banned Filipino officials from entering the United States over the continuing detention of opposition Sen. Leila de Lima. “Should a ban from entry into US territory be enforced against Philippine officials involved in – or by reason of – Senator de Lima’s lawful imprisonment, this government will require all Americans intending to come to the Philippines to apply and secure a visa before they can enter Philippine territory,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing. The drug cases lodged against De Lima have yet to reach the SC, contrary to Panelo’s claims, as these are still being heard at the Muntinlupa and Quezon City regional trial courts. Panelo insisted that De Lima, who has been in detention since February 2017, was not “wrongfully imprisoned.”“We reiterate that the Philippines is an independent and sovereign state. ADVERTISEMENTRead NextLATEST STORIESMOST READ

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer December 27, 2019 05:44 UTC