Philippines bans US senators, threatens tighter visa rules for Americans

President Rodrigo Duterte said he will stop US nationals from visiting the country visa-free if any Philippine officials are denied entry to America

The move come after the US Congress sought to introduce sanctions over the detention of Senator Leila De Lima, a top critic of Duterte

Reading Time:2 minutes

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte. Photo: EPA

Published: 3:56pm, 27 Dec 2019Updated: 3:57pm, 27 Dec 2019

The Philippines has banned two US lawmakers from visiting and will introduce tighter entry restrictions for US citizens should Washington enforce sanctions over the detention of a top government critic, the president’s spokesman said on Friday.

President Rodrigo Duterte will impose a requirement on US nationals to get visas should any Philippine officials involved in the incarceration of Senator Leila De Lima be denied entry to America, as sought by US senators Richard Durbin and Patrick Leahy.

Duterte’s move comes after the US Congress approved a 2020 budget that contains a provision introduced by the senators against anyone involved in holding De Lima, who was charged with drug offences in early 2017 after she led an investigation into mass killings during Duterte’s notorious anti-drugs crackdown.

“We will not sit idly if they continue to interfere with our processes as a sovereign state,” Philippine presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo told a regular news conference.

Filipino Senator Leila De Lima pictured in 2016. Photo: EPA

The Philippines grants visa-free entry for up to 30 days to Americans, 792,000 of whom visited in the first nine months of 2019, nearly 13 per cent of foreign arrivals, government data showed.

The US embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x