President’s conditions on UN rapporteur’s visit echoed by DFA

President Duterte is firm on the conditions he has set in order for United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Killings Agnes Callamard, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

In a press briefing in Malacañang, Foreign Affairs Spokesman Charles Jose said there will be no compromise on the conditions on Callmard’s visit to the Philippines.

“The conditions set by the President are still standing. Until and unless she agrees to these conditions, I don’t think the visit will push through,” Jose said.

After expressing her willingness to probe the alleged extrajudicial killings (EJK) in the country due to Duterte’s war on drugs, the administration has set three conditions before allowing the investigation to push through.

These include Callamard having a public debate with Duterte before the media; Duterte being able to ask Callamard questions; and lastly, for the UN special rapporteur to take oath.

In an interview with CNN Philippines last December, Callamard rejected these conditions, saying it is not consistent with the code of conduct for special rapporteurs to engage in what she called a “politicized debate.”

“I cannot build trust, including with the police or with the government, if there is a threat of public debate at the end of the mission,” the Frenchwoman said, adding that the issue is a sensitive matter as it involves deaths of suspected drug pushers and allegedly innocent victims.

Callamard, instead, suggested for the Philippine officials to have a private meeting with Duterte and hold a joint press conference, after a weeklong probe, where the President can make a rebuttal on the UN’s preliminary findings. Europe urged to respect PH’s legal processes Meanwhile, Malacañang has called on the European lawmakers to respect the country’s legal processes, including the detention of Senator Leila de Lima for alleged drug offense.

Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella insisted that De Lima’s case was criminal in nature and was not politically motivated.

“They simply have a misunderstanding of what’s happening to De Lima,” Abella said, after the European lawmakers were expected to vote on a resolution seeking the immediate release of De Lima, the foremost critic of the President’s deadly war on illegal drugs.

“The lady is being charged with crime not political persuasions so I think they ought to respect that,” Abella added.

The European lawmakers have reportedly proposed a resolution asking Philippine authorities to drop the “politically motivated” charges against De Lima and stop the harassment against her. It also called on the government to “abstain from political persecution” and let persons exercise their profession and rights without fear of reprisal and harassment.