United Nationals special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings (EJK) Agnes Callamard told Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo to ask the Philippine police and government to stop EJK instead of asking statements and media reports on the killings to be “toned down.”
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Callamard posted her response to Teo on Twitter, after the tourism chief asked Vice President Leni Robredo and the media to tone down reports on the killings in the country on March 22.
“#Philippines Tourism Chief asks Media to tone down #EJK report! She should ask Gov & Police to #StopEJK,” she tweeted.
#Philippines Tourism Chief asks Media to tone down #EJK report! She should ask Gov & Police to #StopEJK. https://t.co/dM8uNFy5aj
— Dr Agnes Callamard (@AgnesCallamard) March 22, 2017
Teo said that the reports about the killings in the Philippines are making it harder to promote the country as a travel destination.
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“‘Yung mga statements na ganoon, nahihirapan kaming i-sell ang Philippines so I hope kung puwede — even if it’s not only referred to [Vice President] Leni but also to the media — kung puwede, i-tone down natin yung reports on extrajudicial killings,” Teo said.
Teo made the statement after Robredo sent a video message to the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs, where she talked about the alleged police abuses, the alleged “palit-ulo” scheme and warrantless searches in Manila’s poor communities.
She also urged Robredo to help sell the country instead of making accusations about EJK.
“[Just] help us sell the Philippines. Help us because you know, it’s very difficult for me to sell the Philippines especially if napag-uusapan na [ang] extrajudicial killings,” she said.
Teo added that she will personally assure the tourists of their safety while traveling in the Philippines and that there are still tourists visiting the country despite the negative reports about the killings.
Source: ( philstar.com )
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