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