Protesters burn a cube effigy
with Duterte's face during a National Day of Protest outside the
presidential palace in metro Manila, Philippines, on Sept 21, 2017.
Source: Reuters/Romeo Ranoco
A GROUP of 39 countries has raised “serious concern” regarding the human
rights situation in the Philippines amid President Rodrigo Duterte’s
war on drugs.
In a joint statement released during the UN Human Rights Council’s 36th Session
in Geneva this week, a group of European nations, Australia, the US and
the UK emphasised that the Philippines needs to investigate all
killings, combat a climate of impunity, and protect human rights
defenders (HRDs).
At least 7,000 people have been killed in anti-drug operations since
Duterte took power last June according to official police statistics,
with some rights groups estimating the figure is more like 13,000.
“We urge the government to pursue investigations of alleged human rights
violations and abuses and to create a safe and secure environment for
indigenous communities, journalists and HRDs,” said the statement read
by Iceland’s representative to the Human Rights Council (HRC).
The Philippines is one of the most dangerous places on earth for
journalists, concerns over their safety are heightened under the Duterte
administration because the President has actively encouraged violence
against the media.
Duterte gestures as he delivers his speech, during the oath taking of
Philippine National Police (PNP) star rank officers, at the Malacanang
Presidential Palace in Manila, Philippines, on Aug 30, 2017. Source:
Reuters/Romeo Ranoco
The government-controlled lower house of Philippines parliament recently
voted to award the national Commission on Human Rights (CHR) – which
has been investigating widespread allegations of abuses during the war
on drugs – just US$20 budget for 2018.
The decision was later overturned after an appeal from the CHR’s
chairman, despite a key government figure calling the body “useless” and
past threats from Duterte to shut it down completely. The National
Commission on Indigenous Peoples also had its budget restored.
The HRC members’ statement also called upon the government to work with
the UN and civil society organisations to “promote and protect human
rights, including by welcoming a visit from the SR [Special Rapporteur]
on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, without preconditions
or limitations.”
The Philippines has invited UNSR Agnes Callamard to investigate
extrajudicial killings, but only on the condition that can be personally
interrogated by Duterte in a public debate. Duterte has repeatedly
cursed Callamard, calling her a “son of a bitch” and “stupid.”
A protestor pretends to be dead to picture one of the victims of
Duterte’s war on drugs during a National Day of Protest outside the
Malacanang presidential palace in metro Manila, Philippines, on Sept 21,
2017. A note read ‘Don’t imitate it was mistaken identity’. Source:
Reuters/Romeo Ranoco
Foreign minister Alan Peter Cayetano on Thursday told US Secretary of
State Rex Tillerson that the Philippines had “nothing to hide”, was open
to an “independent and fair” investigation of its human rights
situation.
Cayetano also thanked Washington for US$2 million in support of the drugs war, reported the state Philippine News Agency.
After record numbers of killings during a major, nationwide drug operation in August, Manila police spokesman Colonel Erwin Margarejo said: “Let’s kill another 32 every day. Maybe we can reduce what ails this country.”
Duterte has even said the police should kill his own son, Davao City’s
Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, who stands accused of being involved with
shipments of illicit drugs from China.
By
