MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – A committee in the United States Senate has approved a proposal to prohibit the entry of Philippine government officials involved in the “politically-motivated” detention of Sen. Leila De Lima.

US Sen. Dick Durbin (D-ILL) lauded the US Senate’s appropriations committee for passing the amendment he proposed with Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT).

In retaliation, some Philippine Senators want to ban the U.S. Senators who approved the proposal from entering the Philippines.

But President Rodrigo Duterte has a different idea altogether. He has extended an invitation to Leahy, Durbin and other members of the U.S. Senate committee to visit Malacañang, the Philippine Presidential Palace.

Duterte however clarified that he cannot ensure that the visiting American Senators would be able to leave Malacañang or the Philippines after their visit.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) may need to build more jail cells next to that of Senator De Lima.