CHR: UN protocol was followed
United Nations special rapporteur on extrajudicial executions Agnes Callamard had informed the Philippine government in advance of her visit to attend a drug policy conference in accordance with protocols, organizers maintained yesterday.
“As far as we all know, the UN special rapporteur followed all of the protocols and all of the procedures required, informing the Philippine government, contrary to the Palace statement,” said Maria Socorro Diokno, executive director of the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) that co-organized the two-day event
at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.
“We want to engage in dialogue, meaningful dialogue. We want to be able to change our policy. We think there are alternatives to what is happening outside and that is one of the reasons why we are holding this particular forum,” she added.
Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella claimed Callamard’s visit was unannounced and that the government had no prior information about it. He said the government is considering filing a complaint with the UN.
But in a speech on Thursday hours before it was reported that the rapporteur is in the country, President Duterte himself announced that Callamard had arrived.
“And here’s a shocker: I will kill you. I will really kill you. And that’s why the rapporteur of the UN is here, investigating extrajudicial killings,” said Duterte.
But speaking to reporters at the UP forum yesterday, Callamard said she is in the Philippines for academic purposes and will not conduct any official investigation.
“I am here solely for the purpose of the policy forum. I am not here on an official visit. I am here for an invitation to participate in an academic conference,” she said.
Callamard stressed the Philippine government is free to monitor her movement while in the country.
For his part, Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chairman Chito Gascon urged the Duterte administration to take advantage of the presence of Callamard in the country to formalize an invite for her to visit and conduct an investigation.
“Why doesn’t the government invite her to do her work as special rapporteur, perhaps now or later?” Gascon said on the sidelines of the CHR 30th anniversary celebration on Thursday night.
“If President Duterte is saying that she’s here to investigate EJKs, we ask the government to follow suit and to cooperate fully with her on what she needs to do as special rapporteur,” he added.
Gascon also stressed Callamard was in the country as a guest of the FLAG that organized the two-day policy forum at UP.
The CHR chief said he would try to have an informal discussion with the UN rapporteur to discuss various issues involving human rights in the country.
“We welcome her presence here and we will take advantage of her presence while she is here to have a conversation, even if informal, or a dialogue with her,” said Gascon.
“We will of course update her on what we’re doing as the Commission on Human Rights. And we will tell her what some of our initial observations are. These are public anyway… We will also talk with her about ways and means by which we could improve documentation of what’s happening. We’d like to hear from her what sort of assistance she might need from the CHR,” he added.
“Whatever information she receives will of course be useful for purposes of providing full information and context in the report that she needs to do,” he added.
Callamard delivered the keynote speech during the opening day of the forum yesterday.
Various international experts will also discuss drug policies, public health approach to addressing the problem, economics of the war on drugs and the experiences of other countries in dealing with the drug problem.
Dangerous Drugs Board chairman Benjamin Reyes presented the Philippine drug situation and the government’s policy for addressing the issue.
On the sidelines of yesterday’s conference, Callamard was handed a sealed letter from detained Sen. Leila de Lima.
De Lima’s chief of staff Fhilip Sawali carried the letter from her cell at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center at Camp Crame.
The letter was reportedly three pages long written on De Lima’s official stationery and sealed with a staple. “For: Ms. Agnes Callamard” was written on it.
Her staff at the Senate said they were not aware of what was in the letter.
De Lima is being held for what she described as “trumped up” drug charges. She allegedly abetted the drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison when she was justice secretary.
The senator also yesterday greeted employees and officials of the CHR, which she used to head, on the occasion of the agency’s 30th anniversary.
In her message, De Lima said the CHR faces one of its toughest challenges under the Duterte administration as it continues to play a vital role in defending human rights and exposing abuses.
De Lima noted it was the CHR’s effort that led to the discovery of a secret cell at a police station in Manila, where 12 individuals were found being held without charges.
She said the existence of the secret cell was clear proof of rampant abuses of human rights under the Duterte administration.
“It is in this institution where I learned the value of human life and human dignity, regardless of one’s status,” she said in a statement.