Despite criticisms and the threat to revoke the country's tariff perks over alleged human rights violations, Malacañang said the government's infamous drug war will continue with even more passion in the remaining years of President Duterte's term.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after President Duterte said during the 75th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that the Philippines will continue to protect the human rights of its people, especially from the scourge of illegal drugs, criminality, and terrorism.
In an interview with CNN Philippines, Roque said that despite the criticisms the drug war has received, President Duterte's resolve to deal with the threat to the right to life brought about by the scourge of illegal drugs will continue.
"It is, in fact, an obligation of the State to protect its people from the scourge of illegal drugs and the President, therefore, will continue with even more passion in the last two years the war on drugs, criticisms notwithstanding," he told "The Source" Wednesday.
According to Roque, there is absolutely no legal principle under international law that prohibits states from acting on the scourge of illegal drugs and terrorism.
"It is a valid sovereign act. It is, in fact, an act which forms part of the international program of the international community even in the UN system. We have a UN anti-drugs office which is based in Vienna, Austria," he said.
President Duterte's drug war has been the subject of criticisms due to the number of deaths and alleged human rights violations linked to the program.
Data from the Philippine National Police (PNP) showed that 7,884 people died in police operations from July 1, 2016 to August 31, 2020.
Roque acknowledged that there are isolated violations of human rights. However, he said, the Philippines has never been remiss in its duty to provide remedies to the victims.
"What is important is that under human rights law, we have to give victims adequate domestic remedy which we have. We have domestic processes that ensure that the war on drugs should take place within the rule of law," he said.
"In case anyone feels that they have been aggrieved, they can resort to these procedures. Aside from the courts, we have an abundance of administrative remedies where the perpetrators are state agents," he added.
Roque said that aggrieved parties can go to the Department of Justice National Prosecution Service, the local courts, the Commission on Human Rights, the People's Law Enforcement Boards (PLEB), the National Police Commission, the Ombudsman, and the Civil Service Commission, among others.
He added that the government recently created an inter-agency committee to look into alleged cases of illegal killings.
"So there's not a lack of remedies for those who feel they are victims of human rights violations," he said.
According to Roque, there will always be human rights violations but what is important is that a country can resolve them.
"We don't have a perfect world. There will always be individuals whose rights may be violated," he said.
"But under Human Rights law, the true test of whether or not a state is in compliance with its obligations under human rights law is that if they are able to give the victims adequate domestic remedies which we have," he added.