EU: CHR should be sufficiently funded as killings constitute ‘an extremely dangerous situation’

The European Union on Thursday said human rights commissions play a vital role in any country and need to be adequately funded to carry out its task, citing the high number of drug-related killings in the Philippines that constitutes “an extremely dangerous situation” and needs to be investigated.

While the EU said it does not comment on ongoing budget deliberations, it noted that it is aware of the vote by the House of Representatives of the Philippines to allocate to the Commission on Human Rights — a body mandated under the Constitution to investigate human rights violations — a budget of only P1,000 or approximately €17.

"Human Rights Commissions play an important role in any country and need to be sufficiently resourced to play that role," the EU said in a statement sent to GMA News Online from its headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.

The initial decision of the House of Representatives to give the CHR an impossibly small budget came under widespread criticism at home and abroad, with United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Executions Agnes Callamard calling it "reprehensible and unconscionable."

Phelim Kline, deputy Asia director of New York-based Human Rights Watch, slammed the lawmakers' decision, saying its move would deal a blow against accountability for human rights violations in the Philippines.

The budget, however, is not yet final as it will still need to be passed by the Senate, and then approved in a bicameral session.

President Rodrigo Duterte lashed out at the EU and other western governments for raising alarm and calling for investigations into thousands of killings under his presidency.

Despite this, the EU maintained its stance in opposing unjust killings.

“The European Union reiterates the importance of carrying out the fight against illegal drugs in the Philippines in full compliance with due process, national law and international human rights law,” it told GMA News Online.

“The high number of killings, including of minors, constitutes an extremely serious situation. All cases of death must be promptly and effectively investigated in an impartial and transparent manner, which ensures appropriate prosecution of those responsible,” the EU said. — RSJ, GMA News