Washington (February 24, 2022) – Today, Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee, Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) released the following statement on the anniversary of the wrongful imprisonment of Philippines Senator Leila de Lima on politically-motivated charges filed against her by the government of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. 

“Today marks five tragic years since Senator De Lima was wrongfully imprisoned, despite widespread international condemnation, because she was willing to shine a light on the egregious abuses of President Duterte’s government,” said the Senators. “We join other members of the international community in condemning Senator De Lima’s continued imprisonment and call for her immediate release.”

Senators Markey, Durbin, and Leahy have been banned by the Duterte government from entering the Philippines due to their advocacy on behalf of Senator De Lime and other human rights activists in the country.

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