Duterte: Philippines committed to prioritizing rights

MANILA, Philippines — Days after declaring on national television that he does not care about human rights, President Duterte has called for a stronger engagement among different sectors to ensure a “healthy human rights environment” and reiterated the Philippines’ commitment to honor its treaty obligations.

In a pre-recorded video message for the opening of a human rights summit yesterday, Duterte said he is proud that the Philippines is one of a few countries that signed many of the world’s core human rights treaties.

“This affirms our serious commitment in honoring and fulfilling our treaty obligations and prioritizing the human rights agenda as a means to achieve our country’s sustainable development goals,” Duterte said.

“Let me, however, stress that our work is far from over. I urge everyone to strengthen the multi-sectoral engagement that would foster a healthy human rights environment for all,” he added.

Duterte, whose controversial war on drugs has sparked outrage among human rights advocates, said he welcomed the justice department-led summit as an effective platform for the international community to enhance collaboration in the protection and promotion of human rights.

The Philippines has ratified a number of human rights treaties including the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Last Thursday, Duterte assailed human rights advocates who have been criticizing his crackdown on illegal drugs, which has resulted in the death of more than 6,000 suspects. He said critics of his drug war are “preoccupied with the health and life of the criminals who are the drug pushers and the drug lords.”

He said having just one family member in every house in a “squatters’ area” involved in drugs is enough to cause serious trouble in society.

“It’s not just my problem. That’s why I don’t care about human rights,” the President said during the ceremonial destruction of seized drugs in Cavite.

“To this day, I say to the human rights, I don’t give a s*** with you. My order is still the same,” he added.

‘Pretenders’ hit

His advisers on human rights, meanwhile, have expressed worry over the passage of the Human Rights Defenders Bill, which they said would abdicate the government’s position as the country’s “top human rights defender” and empower human rights groups that they described as mere “pretenders.”

Speaking before policemen at Camp Crame yesterday, Presidential Human Rights Committee executive director Severo Catura took issue with the proposals for the protection of human rights defenders, specifically with how these bills supposedly define government officials as human rights “violators.”

Both House Bill 9199 and Senate Bill 179, however, do not define government officials as human rights violators but rather, only obligate the state to protect human rights defenders.

“But we are the duty bearer, we are the topmost human rights defender. You are mere pretenders,” Catura said, addressing human rights groups.

“That’s why, to be honest, I am wary about the proposed Human Rights Defenders Act because it defines that we in government are the violators and they (human rights groups) are the defenders when in fact we are the primary defender of human rights in the country,” he continued.

Catura was invited as guest speaker for the Philippine National Police (PNP)’s celebration of National Human Rights Consciousness Week, where he lauded the police organization for its community programs, despite continued calls for accountability for human rights violations, alleged extrajudicial killings and abuse of authority.

The proposals, which remain pending at the House of Representatives and Senate since last year, seek to institutionalize the protection of human rights defenders and mandate the state to actively take part in their protection.

There was no mention in the proposals that makes the government less important in upholding human rights in the country nor are there provisions that rank institutions and stakeholders in human rights.

Let gov’t play lead role

But Catura insisted on having the government maintain its position at the forefront of human rights protection in the country, despite being slammed on numerous occasions for abetting human rights violations.

“What’s happening here is we’re on the defensive. We are being hammered by enemies of the government: ‘you’re the violator, we are the only defenders,’” he said.

Local and international human rights groups have expressed their alarm on human rights violations, abuses of power and killings committed by local law enforcers during the community quarantine.

The PNP earlier recorded 2,423 or an average of 13 killings a day. Among those killed during the quarantine were peace consultant Randall Echanis, who was stabbed to death in Quezon City, and human rights advocate Zara Alvarez, who was gunned down in Bacolod City.

The pandemic, according to the Human Rights Watch (HRW) earlier, did not stop the killings during anti-drug operations.

Records from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency showed that 155 people were killed during anti-drug operations from March 31 to July 31 this year. HRW said the number does not reflect thousands of others killed by unidentified suspects which, if included, would push figures higher to more than 27,000.

Also yesterday at the Human Rights Summit, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the United Nations would be offering technical assistance to ensure that the implementation of the controversial Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) would conform to international human rights laws.

He thanked the UN – through resident coordinator Gustavo Gonzalez – for its offer of technical assistance. As to what kind of technical assistance, the DOJ chief said the matter is still up for discussion.

The assistance, he said, would enable the Philippines to “have a glimpse of best practices worldwide and tweak our own, if desired.”

There are 37 petitions so far contesting the enactment of the ATA last July 18.

Guevarra stressed the law has safeguards to serve its purpose “without invading the cherished rights and prerogatives of a people under a functioning democracy.”

In his speech during the summit, Gonzalez said that next year the UN would embark on a “joint program for human rights” in the country.

“We will work with the government of the Philippines, with Human Rights Commission and civil society organizations. We will draw on international experiences and best practices to address the human rights challenges,” Gonzalez said.

“This program seeks to strengthen the accountability mechanism, promote more rights-based policy approaches, empower rights holders and contribute in bringing the state and civil society closer together,” he added. – Neil Jayson Servallos, Evelyn Macairan