Palace: US House probe should consider all sides

The probe conducted by the United States (US) House of Representatives on the “human rights” consequence of the war on drugs currently underway in the Philippines should consider all sides to reach a factual conclusion, Malacañang said yesterday.

Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said the Palace respects

the views of the Commission, and greatly values the support the US has been giving the country as the government addresses important economic and social development objectives.

“We also believe that the issues that are the focus of the Commission Hearing must also be discussed in the context of the scope of the challenge that we face and the actions that we are taking to address it,” Abella said in a Palace press briefing Thursday.

Abella said the US House of Representatives should give the country the opportunity to be heard as they probe the alleged killings in the country.

“The universality of human rights presupposes due process be observed by all and as such, any proceedings that allege wrongdoing should provide the opportunity for all sides to be considered,” Abella said.

“Insinuations and hasty judgments have no place in due process. Numbers should be verified and information should be crosschecked so that the ensuing conclusions have a solid basis in fact,” he added.

Noble effort

Under the government’s #RealNumbersPH campaign, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported that a total of 3,200 drug personalities were killed in 63,926 anti-drug operations conducted as of June 20, 2017.

The PNP also reported a total 86,933 drug personalities have been arrested while 1,308,078 surrenderers were facilitated.

According to Abella, President Duterte’s drug war is a “noble effort” as global experts cited the link between terrorism and crime and the role of illegal drugs.

“Global experts have recognized the intrinsic link between terrorism and crime, specifically the manufacture and trafficking of illicit drugs,” he said.

“The Duterte administration’s campaign against illegal drugs is a noble effort to protect the security and safety of Filipino people and the future of the nation,” he added.

Increased killings

According to the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, while extrajudicial killings (EJKs) in the Philippines have been a concern for some time, the US State Department recognized a sharp increase in the killings over the last year.

The Commission cited PNP statistics showing “7,025 drug-related killings were carried out between July 1, 2016, when Duterte assumed office, and January 21, 2017 — an average of 34 per day.”

It also cited Duterte’s campaign promise to kill “drug pushers, holdup men and do-nothings … and dump all of [them] into Manila Bay, and fatten all the fish there.”

Testifying at the hearing are Ellecer Carlos, spokesperson of human rights group iDEFEND, Matthew Wells, senior crisis advisor of Amnesty International, and Phelim Kine, deputy director of Human Rights Watch’s Asia Division.

The Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission said the witnesses will analyze the implementation of the drug war and its consequences for the human rights situation in the Philippines.

It added that the witnesses will also “provide policy recommendations for ensuring accountability for human rights violations and for addressing the problems of drug abuse and trafficking in ways consistent with promoting public health and strengthening rule of law.”

The Commission is co-chaired by Democrat Congressman James Patrick McGovern of Massachusetts and Republican Congressman Randy Hultgren of Illinois.

Pointman

Meanwhile, President Duterte designated Aurora Ignacio, an Assistant Secretary at the Office of the President as “focal person” in handling inquiries and intervention related to the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.

In Presidential Directive No. 5, Ignacio was authorized to “receive inquiries or clarifications and provide the necessary intervention on matters pertaining to the government’s anti-illegal drugs campaigns.

“As focal person, she shall also ensure that those offering assistance to the campaign are immediately acted upon and, whenever necessary, refer the same to the agencies concerned,” it added. (With a report from Genalyn D. Kabiling)