MANILA – The United Nations Human Rights Council urged the Philippine government to end President Rodrigo Duterte’s “war on drugs,” which led to numerous deaths of suspected drug personalities.
The council – composed of 38 states – issued a statement during its 38th session last week, calling the Duterte administration to cooperate in an ongoing investigation into the drug-related killings in the country.
“We urge the government of the Philippines to take all necessary measures to bring killings associated with the campaign against illegal drugs to an end and cooperate with the international community to investigate all related deaths and hold perpetrators accountable,” part of the statement read.
The states also expressed their concern over the alleged harassment of members of the Commission on Human Rights and those exercising freedom of expression.
“We call upon the Philippines to provide and guarantee a safe and secure environment for all, including journalists and human rights defenders,” they said.
Among the 38 nations that participated in the council’s June 19 session were Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Macedonia, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and United States.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, in a statement on Saturday, said the Duterte administration does not need the advice from the nations as it is doing what needs to be done.
“Maski po walang ganyang panawagan eh talaga naman pong ipinatutupad ang batas. May imbentaryo kami nung mga napatay diumano sa giyera laban sa droga para malaman namin kung talagang nasunod ba ang tamang proseso o hindi,” Roque said.
Based on the tally, around 4,279 drug suspects have been killed while 140,000 others have been arrested since the start of the “war on drugs” campaign on July 1, 2016./PN
