Frustrated over the little to no improvement in the human rights situation in the Philippines, Human Rights Watch, along with local human rights groups, urged the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council to issue a follow-up resolution and an immediate investigation into the drug war campaign.
Despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s bravado that he is not worried about the complaints of crimes against humanity filed before the International Criminal Court (ICC) against him and officials involved in the government’s bloody drug war, the speech of Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra before the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) last Feb. 24 betrayed the administration’s concern about it.
The United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights (UNHCHR) has called on the Philippine government to scrap “Oplan Tokhang” and to allow an independent investigation of all killings in order to hold erring parties accountable and compensate the victims and their families.
The Philippines was re-elected in 2018.
Only eight countries expressed qualified support for PH war on drugs.
The appointment of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano as foreign secretary is an indication that the Duterte administration is feeling the heat of a negative international image and needs somebody who can passionately defend the President’s human rights record as what the senator did last week before the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.
