De Lima: Cayetano, Malacañang got a ‘double slap’ from UN rights body

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano and the rest of the Philippine delegation to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) got a “double slap” when they faced the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva, Senator Leila de Lima said Tuesday.

In a statement, De Lima noted how the UNHRC “completely ignored the fictional boasts” of Cayetano.

“While most of the report embodied accomplishments of the PNoy administration, the UNHRC delegates were not about to be fooled, as they were able to distinguish between PNoy's accomplishments and the opposite reality of summary executions that now pervades in the country,” De Lima said.

The review happens every three to four years, where UN member-states present their human rights records to the UNHRC. The last UPR participated by the Philippines was in 2012 during the Aquino administration.

De Lima said the second part of the double slap was on Malacañang when several member states asked the Philippines to grant access to UN special rapporteur on killings Agnes Callamard.

“It's time for Malacañang to swallow its pride and stop all the foolishness,” De Lima said. 

“It will take Cayetano and Malacañang some time to recover from this double slap. Hopefully, the lingering pain and ringing in the ears will teach them never ever to play around with the UN human rights bodies again, and that its officials like Callamard,” she added.

Callamard was in the country last week for an unofficial visit, attending a policy forum on the country’s illegal drug problem, as well as the anniversary of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

Malacañang has criticized Callamard over her unannounced visit, saying it was a “clear signal that she is not interested in getting an objective perspective” on the issue of EJKs. —KG, GMA News