Palace to UN rights chief: Extrajudicial killings not policy of Duterte gov’t

Pia Ranada

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

Palace to UN rights chief: Extrajudicial killings not policy of Duterte gov’t

EPA

'Human rights cannot be used as an excuse to let the spread of drugs in the country run rampant,' says Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella

MANILA, Philippines – In response to remarks of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, the Palace emphasized that the Duterte administration does not sanction extrajudicial killings.

“Notwithstanding the accusations hurled against him, no formal charge of human rights violations has been filed. Alleged EJKs (extrajudicial killings) are not the policy of his administration,” said Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella in a statement released to media on Wednesday, September 14.

The statement was prompted by Zeid calling President Rodrigo Duterte out for his supposed “lack of understanding of our human rights institutions and the principles which keep societies safe.”

Zeid mentioned Duterte during a speech delivered at the opening of the 33rd session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Abella said Duterte, a lawyer and former prosecutor, “knows the limits of the power and authority of the presidency.”

He repeated Duterte’s words during his inauguration, in which he promised his adherence to due process and the rule of law is “uncompromising.”

Abella also described the President as a “respecter of human rights” who, nonetheless, has emphasized that human rights “cannot be used as an excuse to let the spread of drugs in the country run rampant.”

The spokesman did not touch on Zeid’s call for the Philippines to invite Agnes Callamard – the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions – to further investigate the drug war.

In his speech, Zeid accused Duterte for promoting a culture of injustice through his colorful threats to kill criminals even without due process.

“Empowering police forces to shoot to kill any individual whom they claim to suspect of drug crimes, with or without evidence, undermines justice,” said the human rights chief.

“The people of the Philippines have a right to judicial institutions that are impartial, and operate under due process guarantees,” he added.

As of September 14, 3,526 persons have been killed in the Philippines’ drug war. Of this, more than half – 2,035 – were victims of extrajudicial killings. 

Duterte previously called out the UN for its “stupid proposition” that his government is behind extrajudicial killings. – Rappler.com 

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!
Sleeve, Clothing, Apparel

author

Pia Ranada

Pia Ranada is Rappler’s Community Lead, in charge of linking our journalism with communities for impact.