By Jeffrey Damicog

The Philippine government will not heed the call made by United States senators to release detained Senator Leila de Lima, and dropping the charges against Rappler head Maria Ressa, said Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Wednesday, December 18.

Guevarra told reporters that the Philippine government will “certainly not” abide by the call stated under US Senate Resolution 142.

“That’s trash,” the Secretary stressed.

“That is non-existent as far as we are concerned,” Guevarra added.

The Secretary explained that the US resolution was against the country’s rule of law, considering that it calls for the disruption of the judicial process.

“In fact, we are not following the rule of law,” he stated.

“Their suggestion is against the rule of law because we are following the proper legal and judicial processes,” he pointed out.

The Secretary added what the US Senate is asking is also against the country’s laws.

“That is against the law. That is against the process. That is against the rule of law,” he said.

De Lima is currently facing charges concerning her alleged involvement in the proliferation of illegal drugs trade at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City, while, Ressa is facing multiple tax suits and a libel case.

“Why don’t you just let the process come to its whole termination,” stressed the Secretary.

“Hindi pa tapos ang process (the process is not yet finished),” he added.