EU assures PHL of continued aid amid human rights issues

The European Union on Tuesday assured the Philippines of continued assistance despite lingering human rights concerns, saying it will put more emphasis on peace-building and job creation in Mindanao.

EU ambassador to the Philippines Franz Jessen said the peace process in Mindanao had become the European bloc’s primary focus in the Philippines as it tries to “align” itself “with the new policies of the government.”

“What we do is try to refocus to match the priorities of the new government. That’s why we are focusing more on Mindanao than we did in the past,” Jessen told a group of journalists in a briefing at his residence in Makati City.

“That means we are seeking to shift some of our ideas towards Mindanao to focus on job creation, peace-building, and development of the justice sector," he added.

Mindanao, he said, will get a “very big chunk” of the €300 million development assistance being provided by the EU to the Philippines until 2020.

An initial funding of €50 million have been earmarked for Mindanao, Jessen said, adding the remaining aid will come early next year.

Continued assistance for Mindanao, he said, is a reaffirmation of the EU’s commitment to peace and development in the region plagued by decades of war and conflict.

Part of the EU’s assistance to the Philippines would also support the energy sector.

While Jessen acknowledged drug killings and human rights violations remained a concern, he said these issues should not prevent the Philippines and the EU from working together.

“The Philippines is a partner country and the closer we can work on different issues the easier to develop the relationship,” he said.

However, he said the EU would continue to speak on issues that run counter to the EU’s principles of democracy and human rights.

“We have a values-based approach to our relations with countries and human rights of course is one of them,” Jessen said.

“There are other issues that we think there is room for improvement and there are some developments where we have been a bit more outspoken over the past year and we will continue to do that,” he added.

The EU, along with the United Nations and the United States—a close ally of the Philippines—have expressed concern on the wave of killings of drug suspects since Duterte came into power on June 30 last year. At least 7,000 have reportedly been killed in the government’s bloody anti-drug war.

While they support the country’s campaign against illegal drugs, the EU, UN and the US maintained that due process and human rights must be observed by Philippine authorities in carrying out its operations.

Amid the drug killings, the EU suggested "a health-based solution" to the country's problem with illegal drugs.

But Duterte criticized the EU proposal, claiming it wanted the Philippine government to build clinics where drug users could still get access to and be given a dose of illegal substance. This was denied by the European bloc.

The Philippine leader, known for his expletive-laden speeches, also threatened to hang EU officials for opposing his efforts to restore death penalty.

Such remarks prompted the EU to summon a senior Philippine embassy official last March to protest what it calls Duterte’s “unacceptable comments.”

Duterte, who bristled at criticisms against his crackdown on illegal drugs, told his critics not to meddle with his domestic policies as he vowed to step up his campaign “until the last drug lord is killed.”

Jessen said the protection of human rights should be upheld by all countries of the world—whether rich or poor.

“Going backwards on human rights is not a step forward,” Jessen said.

"Human rights is not something that comes from the rich parts of the world. Basically, human rights are to protect the weaker part of society, to protect countries," he added. —NB, GMA News