Group asks UNHRC: Pursue probe into PHL human rights situation

Human rights group Karapatan-Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights on Sunday called on the United Nations Human Rights Council to press forward its investigation into the current human rights situation in the Philippines, following the reelection of the country into the UN body.

“We thus call on the UNHRC to pursue its independent investigation to look into human rights violations in the Philippine, amid numerous reports and complaints that have been submitted to the said body," said Karapatan Secretary Cristina Palabay.

Her remarks come days after the Philippines, along with other countries, was elected to the UNHRC with slots lasting from 2019 to 2022.

"The Duterte government can spin their membership in the UNHRC all they want, but the victims will continue with their quest for justice; no trail of blood left by this murderous regime will be forgotten," said Palabay.

Over the weekend, newly installed Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the election was "recognition that our government respects human rights and will not tolerate abuse by those in authority."
 

Palabay, however, said that the election does not absolve the government from the killings during its campaign against illegal drugs.

"The election of the Philippine government to the UNHRC does not absolve the Duterte government of its rights violations against the Filipino people," said

"It does not erase the thousands killed in its murderous drug war or its spectrum of violations and scores of victims in indigenous and peasant communities," she elaborated.

According to the latest data available from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, there were a total of 4,410 personalities killed during anti-drug operations from July 1, 2016 to July 31, 2018.

International watchdog Human Rights Watch, however, has pegged the figure to as high as 12,000.

"The new presidential spokesperson may be over the moon for this supposed 'affirmation' of the government’s campaigns and human rights record, but no one is convinced," said Palabay.

"The victims of this regime are not convinced, human rights organizations and advocate both here and overseas are not convinced, many oppressed sectors are not convinced," she added. —Jon Viktor Cabuanas/LBG, GMA News