Opposition faces threats, trumped-up charges under Duterte – APHR

A report by the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) concluded that political opponents of President Rodrigo Duterte faced trumped-up charges and suffered threats and intimidation under his presidency.

In its report "In the Crosshairs of the Presidency" released Tuesday, the organization documented how at least eight senators and congressmen, who were critical of the government's war on drugs and other policies, have faced "politically-motivated" criminal charges under the Duterte administration.

“The efforts by the Philippine government to harass, sideline and even imprison lawmakers are extremely troubling. These attempts to silence political opponents mark just one example of how democratic institutions are being eroded under President Duterte,” Charles Santiago, Chair of APHR and a Member of Parliament in Malaysia, said in a news release.

“The Philippines is in the midst of a serious human rights crisis and needs a strong and functioning opposition more than ever, but this is simply not possible in the current climate. With the new Congress taking their seats in July, it is high time for the government to change course and ensure that all lawmakers can perform their duties without fear of reprisals," he added.

Among the lawmakers featured in the APHR report was Senator Leila De Lima, who has been detained since February 2017 over drug-related charges.

De Lima, who led a Senate investigation into the extrajudicial killings in relation to the campaign against illegal drugs, was accused of allowing the illegal drug trade to proliferate inside the New Bilibid Prison during her term as Justice Secretary. This was supposedly in exchange for contributions to her senatorial campaign in 2016.

Aside from her, Anakpawis party-list Representative Ariel Casilao and ACT Teachers party-list Antonio Tinio were also cited in the report after they were charged with child abuse violations for leading a rally against martial law in Mindanao attended by Lumad children.

Senator Risa Hontiveros was also mentioned in the report as she was charged with kidnapping after providing shelter to witnesses in the killing of 17-year-old Kian Delos Santos in September 2017, and  faced wiretapping charges for disclosing former congressman Jacinto Paras' supposed text messages with Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II.

“The use of politically motivated criminal cases against lawmakers in the Philippines must end," said Eva Sundari, an MP in Indonesia and APHR Board Member.

"We urge the authorities to immediately drop all charges against those who have done nothing but engage in peaceful political activities – this must also include immediately and unconditionally releasing Senator Leila de Lima from detention," she added.

The APHR also criticized Duterte's tirades against opposition lawmakers, including his labeling of De Lima as an "immoral woman" and attempting to show an alleged sex tape her, and spewing "fake news" against his opponents, including Vice President Leni Robredo.

Apart from this, the report said that the Duterte administration had manipulated democratic processes to undermine opposition lawmakers in Congress. On one occasion, congressmen were stripped of their leadership positions and had the budgets for their legislative districts slashed after they opposed the death penalty bill.

It also took note of the installation of administration-allied congressmen in the minority bloc of the House of Representatives, which it said should be an "important check and balance on the executive."

APHR said that lawmakers play an important role in promoting and upholding human rights, but this will not happen if they are faced with threats and intimidation.

“These are troubling times for democracy in Southeast Asia. Governments in the region must stop lashing out at opponents, and instead build inclusive political cultures where everyone’s views are respected," Mu Sochua, Cambodian MP and a Board Member of APHR said.

'We need open and strong democracies to fulfill the promise of an ASEAN where human rights are upheld and protected for all people,” she added. — Erwin Colcol/DVM, GMA News