Human rights, secession, etc.

“HUMAN rights” is a Western cultural construct that aims not only to impose their narrative but also to control developing (Third World) countries, particularly in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

And speaking of “human rights”, United Nations Special Rapporteur (UNSR) on Freedom of Expression Irene Khan met with the executives of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), Anti-Terrorism Council Program Management Center (ATCPMC) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) at the Philippine National Police ( PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame to discuss crucial topics of freedom of opinion and expression.

In that meeting, ATC- PMC, stressed the importance of state policy in safeguarding fundamental rights and liberties in the fight against terrorism. They also highlighted the Supreme Court decision upholding the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020’ s constitutionality and the issuance of judicial regulations guaranteeing its responsible execution. ATCPMC also explained the stringent guidelines that the Anti-Terrorism Council adheres to when categorizing organizations as terrorists.

On the other hand, NTF-ELCAC highlighted its efforts to promote good governance by enhancing civic participation in national and local decision- making processes. They also discussed its mandate to address the root causes of insurgency and implement long-term development to improve the quality of life in communities affected by armed conflict.

As expected, Khan called for the abolition of the NTF-ELCAC which was really her biased agenda all along.

Undersecretary Ernesto Torres, NTF- ELCAC executive director, dismissed Khan’s call to abolish the NTF-ELCAC as an attempt to revive a declining terrorist movement.

The parallel with the employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) who are members of terrorist group HAMAS is indeed uncanny.

Moving on, s ome re t i red politicians in Mindanao are calling for the secession of the island from the Republic of the Philippines, nothing new really, and definitely bound to fail.

In a statement, the Department of Justice said it “vehemently opposes calls for the secession of Mindanao or other parts of the country, and stands firmly against any attempts to undermine the unity and territorial integrity of the Philippines, as enshrined in the Constitution.”

Secession is contrary to the principles of the country’s democratic society, as stated in Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution.

National Security Adviser Eduardo Año assured the government would do everything to prevent any attempt to dismember the country.

“Any attempt to secede any part of the Philippines will be met by the government with resolute force.”

Anyway, this call for Mindanao secession is very much like the tantrums of a spoiled brat who did not get his way and threatens to run away from home.

Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ushered Filipinos to a “Bagong Pilipinas”, a call for the nation’s transformation aimed at serving the people.

At the kick- off rally in Quirino Grandstand, President Marcos said the Bagong Pilipinas is not just a slogan, a sticker or a logo that everyone will see in the streets, but a brand of governance of the administration.

“Bagong Pilipinas” is not a political game plan that caters to a privileged few, but a master plan for genuine development that benefits people from all walks of life.

“Bagong Pilipinas is not a new partisan coalition in disguise. It is a set of ideals that all us Filipinos, regardless of political creed or religion or wealth, can coalesce around. Bagong Pilipinas is addressed to all government officials and employees, and citizens of this country.”

Hmmm… a re-engineered version of President Marcos Sr.’ s “Bagong Lipunan.”/