Human rights groups in the Philippines welcomed the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the human rights violations under the Duterte administration.
In a joint statement before the UN Human Rights Council 44th session in Geneva, Switzerland, international non-government organization Civicus and Karapatan called on the HRC members to “follow up with action and deliver a strong resolution which deliver the accountability measures that are so badly needed” in the country.
UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet on Tuesday formally presented before the Council her office’s report about the killings and human rights violations in the Philippines.
In the report, Bachelet cited serious findings that include “killings, arbitrary detentions, and vilification of those who challenge severe human rights violations” in the war against illegal drugs.
The two groups said that Bachelet’s report highlighted the “Philippines’ once-vibrant and open tradition of civil society activity is under serious threat.”
“Yesterday, the Philippines was added to Civicus’ watchlist, reflecting its sharp decline in civic freedoms,” they noted.
They also cited reprisals on Karapatan, as “one of the many organizations threatened and smeared for their work, including for their reports to the UN.”
“Reprisal are never acceptable but are even more egregious when perpetrated by a member of this Council,” the groups said.
Civicus and Karapatan welcomed the statements made at the interactive discussion with Bachelet, member states, the Philippines’ Commission on Human Rights, and other civil society organizations following the presentation of the UN report.
“No country is above scrutiny, not should they be above accountability,” they averred.
Justice Secretary Menardo Gueverra told the UN Human Rights Council that he has created an interagency panel that will look into the 5,655 casualties in police drug war operations. He is the head of this panel.
But the Ecumenical Voice for Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines (Ecuvoice) doubted the government’s statement on the premise that it was just a “damage control” to preempt any international action on alleged human rights violations in the country.
“The pledges and comments though now delivered in more sober and studied tones appear to be damage control to save its international reputation, pre-empt any further concrete and decisive international opportunities or mechanisms for accountability, and to provide the environment to wreak more damage on the Filipino people in its draconian solutions to the drug menace, rampant criminality, pandemic catastrophe, and the supposed threat of terrorism,” it said.
Government data showed that more than 5,000 suspects have died in police drug operations, but human rights groups claimed the actual figures were pegged higher than 20,000. (Raymund F. Antonio)