Locsin: PHL efforts on counter-terrorism anchored on human rights, rule of law

FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. maintained that the Philippines’ efforts to address terrorism have been anchored on human rights and the rule of law.

In a statement on Thursday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Mr. Locsin shared the Philippines’ policies against terrorism before foreign leaders during a security roundtable discussion in the 55th Munich Security Conference in Bavaria, Germany, last week. He was among the 50 foreign ministers attending the forum, along with 35 heads of state and 30 defense ministers.

The security roundtable discussion where Mr. Locsin spoke was titled “The Smuggle is Real: New Impulses for Countering Illicit Flows.” It was attended by Kenyan Foreign Minister Monica Juma, Europol Executive Director Catherine de Bolle, and US Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan.

“Our counter-terrorism efforts will remain anchored on respect for human rights and the rule of law. And always with this in mind: that a state’s first, and foremost, and overriding responsibility is to protect the law-abiding against the lawless; and the innocent against those who threaten their safety and well-being,” Mr. Locsin was quoted as saying.

“To that responsibility my President has made an iron, unwavering and total commitment,” he added.

The DFA said the Foreign Affairs Secretary also attended the plenary discussions which featured German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, and Romanian President and EU Council President Klaus Iohannis among the speakers.