Philippine Standard Time:

Sunday, June 15, 2025 - 1:27 PM

  1. Home
  2. Statements
  3. Press Statement
  4. Press Release of the Commission on Human Rights On the Statement of Presidential Spokesman Ernesto…

CHR CONCERNED OVER PRESIDENT DUTERTE’S REMARKS AGAINST UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR, HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS

31 August 2017
PRESS RELEASE

CHR CONCERNED OVER PRESIDENT DUTERTE’S REMARKS
AGAINST UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR, HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is concerned over President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s expletives against UN Special Rapporteur on Extra-Judicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions, Agnes Callamard, and other human rights defenders.

The recent statement from the highest official of the land sends a chilling effect not only to Callamard, but also to human rights defenders who are just expressing their concerns over human rights violations related to the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.

President Duterte’s expletives came after Callamard tweeted that Kian delos Santos’s death must be the last in his campaign against drugs. Last week, President Duterte has conveyed his commitment to resolve the killing of the 17-year old student, which the Commission welcomed.

“We are happy with the President’s pronouncements that the perpetrators in the Kian case will be brought to justice and due process will prevail. What UN Special Rapporteur Callamard said was just a reminder to government to ensure that these extra-judicial killings must stop. There is no reason to take it in a negative way.” says CHR Commissioner Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana.

CHR reiterates that it supports the government’s desire to end drug addiction and alleged drug-related activities in the Philippines, but it condemns the methods that the government is currently employing, such as illegal arrests and extra-judicial killings.

CHR—as conscience of the government and the people—remains firm in its stance that in this campaign against drugs, the cause are the social ills forcing people to drug abuse and drug addiction. CHR, as a National Human Rights Institution, aims for nothing less than the full protection and promotion of human rights of the Filipino people. ■

 

Contact Person:

Atty. Jacqueline Ann C. de Guia
Director, Public Affairs and Strategic Communication Office
Telephone No: (02) 928-5792 / 0977 284 0787
Email address: comms.chr@gmail.com

 

Download PDF

 

Related Post

Other Stories

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) takes reports of human rights violations seriously. We assure concerned groups that as best we can, we shall take appropriate action in accordance with our mandate on the basis of all relevant information available

Torture and kidnapping are prohibited acts under our laws. As crimes, these are grave human rights violations that should not be taken lightly or be used as a joke, especially if used to challenge the mandate of a constitutionally-mandated body,

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is one with the LGBTQI community in the global campaign for the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT), where groups and communities across various local, national, regional and global levels organise events

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is deeply alarmed of the two incidents of possible extortion and security threat from an alleged commander and a member of the New People’s Army (NPA) done via phone call to the CHR Region

Bata, bata! Artsy ka ba? Sa ating paggunita ng National Children’s Month, imagination mo ang limit sa On the Spot Poster Making Contest sa November 23, 2019 (Sabado) na gaganapin Bulwagang Ka Pepe ng Komisyon sa Karapatang Pantao mula 10

Nakikiisa ang Komisyon sa mga Karapatang Pantao sa pagdiriwang ng Mahal na Araw o Kuwaresma ng mga kababayan nating Kristiyano. Sa gitna ng coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic, ang diwa ng okasyon na ito ay ating isabuhay sa pamamagitan ng ating