PH slams UN Human High Commissioner for Human Rights

Both Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano and Deputy Permanent Representative
Philippine Mission to United Nations Office and Other International Organizations in Geneva Maria Teresa Almojuela hit United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein for having severely mischaracterized the situation in the Philippines in his report to the Human Rights Council, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

“The Philippines has provided the Human Rights Council with all the facts regarding the campaign against illegal drugs in our report to the Third Cycle of the Universal Periodic Review in May 2017,” Secretary Cayetano said.

“The Commissioner’s report would have been balanced and accurate had he considered the information that we provided, instead of just relying on uncorroborated information,” he added. “The Philippines has actively participated in the Universal Periodic Review process, and was one of the first countries to undergo the review in 2008, having championed the establishment of the UPR process under the UN Human Rights Council Mechanism.”

In Geneva, Deputy Permanent Representative Almojuela responded to the Commissioner’s report, stating that “the practice of making highly-biased and sweeping generalizations, without due consideration of the facts on the ground, has no place in the Human Rights Council.”

“Like any country, the Philippines cannot and does not assert that it manages the challenges to human rights in a perfect manner, but the Philippine government, more than any party here, seeks justice and dignity for all Filipino people,” she said.

In her statement, Ambassador Almojuela underscored that the Philippines “is a democratic country that strongly adheres to the rule of law, with well-established and institutionalized human rights, policies and programs.”

“The Philippine Government investigates and prosecutes all credible allegations of human rights violations, including those perpetrated allegedly by state security forces,” Ambassador Almojuela said in her statement at the 36th Human Rights Council General Debate.

“The UPR has shown our openness to constructive dialogue to continue to enhance and strengthen the protection and promotion of human rights in the country,” Ambassador Almojuela added.