Karapatan's letter on EJK cases mere 'propaganda,' Palace says

Malacañang on Sunday branded as mere "propaganda" Karapatan's submission of a letter of allegation to United Nations (UN) special rapporteurs Agnes Callamard and Michael Forst concerning 25 alleged cases of extra-judicial killings (EJK).

In a text message to reporters, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said he has yet to see the cases and has no idea if the group filed the cases before local courts or fiscals.

"It’s useless to go to go the UN without filing cases before the fiscal’s office," Roque said.

"Filing directly with the UN is only for propaganda purposes because there are institutions in the Philippines that could address it," he added.

In the letter, Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said the alleged new EJK cases were perpetrated by security forces in relation to the administration's counter-insurgency program.

“From one counter-insurgency program to another, cases of extrjaudicial killings against peasants, indigenous peoples, Moro, workers, women and youth continue to be committed with impunity under the murderous Duterte regime," the letter read.

"Also, most, if not all, of the perpetrators of human rights violations under the administrations of former Presidents Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III have not been brought to justice,” it added.

But Roque said the cases should be filed first in the proper office in the Philippines.

"They should file it in the fiscal’s office, they should file it with the Supreme Court for writ of Amparo if they’re concerned about upholding the right to life," he said.

Karapatan claimed it has so far documented 104 victims of EJKs under Duterte’s counter-insurgency program from July 2016 to October 2017. —ALG, GMA News