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Lawyers group hopes Roque will uphold human rights while in Palace


Human rights group Centerlaw on Sunday expressed confidence that newly-appointed Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque would continue his commitment to human rights while he is in Malacañang with President Duterte.

"We remain grateful to Prof. Harry Roque for the many years of service and mentorship at Centerlaw. As he undertakes a new and challenging endeavor as Presidential Spokesperson, we trust that he will be imbued with the same commitment to human rights as he has espoused in his years at Centerlaw," the group said in a statement.

Roque, according to Centerlaw, was the former chairperson of the group, who "fearlessly fought for the Center’s advocacy and mentored many of the young lawyers who continue the Center’s legacy."

Roque resigned from his position with Centerlaw in 2016 when he was chosen to take a seat at the House of Representatives.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday announced Roque's appointment at spokesperson, replacing former Secretary Ernesto Abella.

Roque said he had eyed the position to talk about human rights with the president.

Duterte has been criticized by local and international human rights groups amid rising number of deaths under his administration's anti-narcotic campaign.

Meanwhile, Centerlaw vowed to continue defending and upholding human rights in the country, especially amid the violent war against illegal drugs.

"And while Prof. Roque has chosen to pursue his advocacy inside the government, Centerlaw continues and will continue in its steadfast and independent work outside of government, speaking truth to power, helping communities, and espousing cases against those who violate human rights," Centerlaw said.

"Centerlaw’s team of human rights defenders filed the first case before the Supreme Court challenging the government's drug policy, and were the first to secure a Writ of Amparo for the protection families of victims and survivor of Operation Tokhang," it added.

On October 18, the group filed a Writ of Amparo petition for the protection of residents and members of 26 barangays in the San Andres Bukid, Manila following the killings supposedly linked to the police's campaign against illegal drugs.  —Anna Felicia Bajo/LBG, GMA News

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