Rody shrugs off US panel ban

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday night belittled the United States Senate committee approval of an amendment that would deny US entry to Philippine officials involved in the “wrongful imprisonment” of opposition Senator Leila De Lima, saying that it’s still raw.

“It’s raw. But when it becomes ripe, then I will say my piece,” said Duterte prior to his departure for Russia, adding that the move was just a mere “proposal” and has yet to be acted upon by the US Congress.

“These are just voices of the members of the committee and if that committee will report the resolution to the plenary and the plenary adopted or joined them, then that would be an act of Congress,” said Duterte.

“I do not deal individually with a Congressman or Senator there, it is not an act of the state,” he added.

The President, however, stressed that when the US Senate adopted the bill, it would be the time that he would talk to US President Donald Trump.

Asked if he is open to the possibility that he will also order a ban against the US senators who pushed for the amendment, the President just shrugged it off and stressed that they are merely proposals.