MANILA, Philippines — For Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, United States senators may still think the Philippines is under Commonwealth rule for them to meddle in the case of detained Senator Leila De Lima.

“Ang layo ah, baka akala naman niya na Commonwealth [rule] pa tayo, minsan din medyo kulang yung pagi-isip ng iba eh,” Sotto said in the Saturday forum at Annabel’s Restaurant in Quezon City.

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(Maybe he thinks that we are still under Commonwealth rule. Sometimes people think differently.)

A U.S. Senate panel previously approved an amendment in a bill that would bar any Philippine government official proven to be involved in the “politically-motivated” imprisonment of De Lima from the entering the United States.

The amendment was proposed by U.S. Senators Richard Durbin and Patrick Leahy.

READ: US Senate bill seeks to ban PH officials involved in De Lima detention

Because of the approval of the amendment, Sotto fired back with this proposal: “Ano kaya ang pakiramdam nung senador na ‘yun kung meron mag-file ng resolution dito na sabihin na ‘wag papasukin sa Pilipinas lahat ng magi-impeach kay [U.S. President Donald Trump]? Pakialamero eh.”

(I wonder what would the senator feel if someone files a resolution seeking to ban entry all those who plan to impeach Trump? They meddle too much.)

“I am not for or against Senator De Lima. As I’ve said, she’s innocent until proven guilty. But you cannot have a U.S. senator judge the case,” he said. /muf

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