UN rep seeks security guarantees for probe on Philippine drug war

26th September 2016

A UNITED Nations rights rapporteur on Monday welcomed Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement last week that he would allow an international probe on his drug war, but said she would first seek security guarantees for the people she planned to interview.

According to AFP, Agnes Callamard, who is UN rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, also said she planned on soliciting a formal invite from the Philippine government to conduct the investigation.

“I welcome the reports recently (conveyed) through the media that the president and government of the Philippines will invite a UN mission to investigate the alleged extrajudicial executions,” she was quoted telling the agency via email.

She said she planned on insisting on a range of measures to ensure those she spoke to would not be punished by the Philippine government later.

SEE ALSO: Philippines: Duterte drops ‘F’ Bomb on the EU over drug war

“The date and scope of the fact-finding mission will be discussed and negotiated with the government, along with essential guarantees,” she said.

Among others, these “essential guarantees” would include allowing her freedom of movement and freedom of inquiry, as well as an assurance that those who cooperate would not later be subjected to intimidates, threats or even punishment.

Last week, Duterte gave the green light to the UN and officials from the European Union (EU) to investigate his bloody anti-drug campaign.

The offer, however, came attached with conditions. Duterte said in return, the foreign bodies must allow his government to question them in public afterward to prove their human rights concerns were baseless.

SEE ALSO:  EU mum on Duterte’s ‘F-bomb’ but maintains Philippines relations good

According to the Philippine Inquirer, Duterte said he planned on sending invites to the UN’s special rapporteur and experts from the European Union, to explain to them the context of his government’s drug war.

Duterte said in keeping with the time-honored principle of the right to be heard,  he will question them after they are finished making their remarks.

“I will ask them one by one. In open forum, you can use the Senate or Folk Arts (Theater), whatever. 

Everybody will be invited,” he said. “You can watch how I will beat these devils to the ground.”

Duterte has repeatedly lashed out at both the UN and EU for criticizing his war on drugs.

Among others, he has accused them of hypocrisy for raising concerns about his anti-crime campaign while launching military strikes that kill innocent people in the Middle East.

More than 3,000 suspected drug dealers and users have been killed since June and more than 600,000 others have surrendered for fear of being killed in the crackdown.

Despite growing alarm, Duterte says he won’t stop the campaign.