Arrests not meant to silence critics amid COVID-19 crisis –Andanar

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar on Friday refuted allegations that the Philippine government is using the COVID-19 pandemic to stifle dissent and tighten censorship.

Andanar took exception to the claim of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, who expressed concern on Wednesday over the arrests under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, which penalizes the spread of false information about the public health crisis.

Bachelet cited the arrest of an artist in Cebu City for online comments about the prevalence of infection in one locality and the attempt of the labor attaché in Taiwan to deport a Filipino migrant worker for criticizing President Rodrigo Duterte's handling of the COVID-19 crisis on social media.

“Such accusations by the High Commissioner of ‘arbitrary’ arrests being done by the government are unfounded and uncalled for,” Andanar said.

“All operations that the government has undertaken regarding this matter, are legal operations that are hinged on the respect for the rule of law and due process as provided by the country's justice system.”

He said the measures against the spread of false information have been undertaken with “transparency, impartiality and accountability.”

“Therefore, any arrests that were made were not targeted towards silencing the critics of this administration,” he said.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque also said that Bachelet’s claim was not true.

“There is no truth to the accusation of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights that the Philippines is using the COVID-19 crisis as an excuse to clamp down on freedom of expression and to tighten censorship,” he said in a statement on Thursday.

He added that the Duterte administration remains “steadfast in our pursuit of our obligations and commitments in the stewardship of the welfare and the human rights of our people.”

“Rehashed claims of impunity are unfounded and the Palace reiterates that it has no place in the Philippines.  Law enforcers operate on strict protocols and transgressors of the law are made accountable,” Roque said. --KBK, GMA News