Hontiveros urges Palace to consider UN rights council reso on PHL drug war

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday said she welcomes the United Nations Human Rights Council resolution seeking an investigation on President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs and urged the administration to be "open" to it.

"Wini-welcome ko po, sa kabila ng hindi pagtanggap ng Malacañang," Hontiveros told Unang Balita in an interview.

"Wini-welcome ko na mas magkaraoon ng international oversight dito sa naging marahas, madugo at abusadong war on drugs ni Presidente."

Malacañang has rejected the UNHRC resolution that was in response to an Iceland-led resolution backed by 17 countries, saying it was an affront to the country’s sovereignty and designed to embarrass the Philippines before the international community.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., meanwhile, questioned the propriety and validity of the resolution.

Hontiveros said she hopes Malacañang would be open to the investigation as the country is still part of the United Nations.

"Sa kabila ng hindi pagtanggap ng Malacañang ay sana maging bukas sila bilang miyembro pa rin naman tayo sa United Nations last time I checked. Bigyang daan po natin ang imbestigasyon at kahit makinig lamang sa rekomendasyon," the opposition senator said.

Hontiveros also said she finds it "symbolic" that Iceland led the resolution since it is a country lauded for its non-law enforcement approach on the drug problem.

"Very symbolic na Iceland ang naghain ng resolution kasi sila ay isa sa may tamang approach sa problematic drug use," she said. "Dapat hindi law enforcement lang ang sagot natin sa drugs problem. Public health approach [din dapat]." —KBK, GMA News