Some member states of the United Nations urged the Philippines to allow UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial executions Agnes Callamard to investigate the killings in the country without conditions.
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Headed by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, the Philippine government defended the human rights record of the country before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland for the Universal Periodic Review.
The countries that recommended for Callamard’s investigation into the alleged EJKs in the Philippines include Bulgaria, France, Hungary, Germany, Ghana, Latvia, Lithuania and Peru.
Other countries also expressed their concern over the EJKs including Australia, Costa Rica, Chile, Brazil, Czech Republic, Croatia, Iceland, Vatican City, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Portugal, New Zealand, Spain, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Spain, United Kingdom, Switzerland and United States.
Some UN member states also asked the Philippines not to reinstate the death penalty as it violates a person’s right to life. The House of Representatives already approved on second reading the restoration of death penalty for drug offenders.
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The Philippine government earlier said that it would allow Callamard to conduct an investigation into the killings in the country but President Duterte set certain conditions for her to follow, such as Duterte holding a public debate with Callamard, Duterte being allowed to ask her questions, and her taking an oath. Callamard rejected those conditions.
Senator Cayetano, now the new Foreign Affairs Secretary, said that the Philippines would welcome any other UN special rapporteur, except for Callamard, citing her supposed partiality.
“Ang usual kapag ka may issue sa isang bansa, humihingi sila ng independent investigation and special rapporteur. Ang special rapporteur po hindi po ‘yan prosecutor na pupunta, na huhusgahan,” he said in a press conference in Phnom Penh on May 10.
“They will go and work with the government to find the problem and recommend. So ang sinabi po natin, welcome basta’t independent at tsaka fair,” he added.
“Si Dr. Callamard, meron na siyang nasa utak niya kung anong nangyayari dito, against na siya eh. Kasi ang problema kay Dr. Callamard ay meron silang ideology sa human rights eh. Yung ideology nila ay based doon sa paniniwala na ang drugs kailangang i-decriminalize, lalo yung possession for personal use,” Cayetano said.
Sources: ( philstar.com , cnnphilippines.com , gmanetwork.com )
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