By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ismael Sueno confirmed the country is facing sanctions from the United States and the European Union over alleged human rights violations committed during the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.
He noted, in a press conference, yesterday, during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meetings at the SMX Convention Center in Bacolod City, the Philippines may no longer be enrolled in the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) fund, which aims to help lead the fight against global poverty, pointing to reports of alleged extrajudicial killings being propagated to the world by the likes of Vice President Maria Leonor ‘Leni’ Robredo.
According to a report by online news site Rappler, MCC stopped sending aid packages to the country in December of last year.
Aside from MCC, 27 trade agreements with EU member countries could also be withdrawn due to accusations of a poor human rights record under the Duterte administration.
He also refuted the claims the president is initiating the supposed killings, saying, “During cabinet meetings, there is no such command from the president to kill alleged drug suspects.”
Sueno also claimed the EU is threatening to impose tariffs on Philippine-made products, especially those coming from the agriculture sector.
“If they impose tariffs or taxes on our products, this would make our local farmers suffer, since the tariffs will be charged to them,” Sueno explained.
The DILG secretary claimed the sanctions are meant to pressure Duterte to release embattled Senator Leila De Lima from prison.
“The calls for Duterte’s impeachment, the EU’s demand to release De Lima, the removal of chairmanships for congressmen who voted against death penalty, and Robredo’s video message to the United Nations are all related,” Sueno stressed. “Why do these issues pop up just a few days apart from one another?”
He noted these are the consequence of trying to undermine the president./WDJ