Washington (May 1, 2023) – As Philippines President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s visits the U.S. this week, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) today released the following statement calling on him to release prisoner of conscience Philippine Senator Leila de Lima. For the past six years, de Lima has been held by the Government of the Philippines on dubious charges. Since her arrest, Senators Markey and Durbin have repeatedly called for her release and for the false charges against her to be dropped.

“As President Marcos comes to our shores this week, we must not forget the troubling human rights situation he presides over back home in the Philippines. We continue to condemn the unjust detention of Philippine Senator Leila de Lima – she should be released immediately and the baseless charges against her should be dropped. We are hopeful the Marcos administration can turn the page on the abuses of the previous administration, and that his leadership brings with it a broader shift in U.S.-Philippines relations, in which both sides uphold shared democratic values amid deepening cooperation.”

In 2017, Senator De Lima was unjustly detained by former President Duterte’s regime for daring to criticize the human rights abuses of his administration. For years, Senator Markey has advocated for her release. Last August, the Senator led a congressional delegation to the Philippines, where he met with Senator de Lima at the detention facility. Senator Markey also met with President Marcos and raised the issue of de Lima’s unfair detention. In October, he led his colleagues in sending a letter to the Filipino Secretary of Justice, calling for Senator de Lima’s release.

In addition to the continued detention of Senator de Lima, the Senators point to additional human rights concerns in the Philippines, including the lack of redress against past abuses by both the Marcos Sr. and Duterte administrations; the murder of labor activists like LGBTQ+ activist Alex Dolorosa; and the dangerous atmosphere for journalists in the Philippines.

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