U.N. reviewing president’s record on human rights
GENEVA — A Filipino senator defended the human rights record of President Rodrigo Duterte’s government before a U.N. body on Monday, saying his government always “seeks to uphold the rule of law” while critical Western nations aired concerns about deadly vigilante justice and extrajudicial killings in the country.
Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano came before the U.N.’s Human Rights Council equipped with a slide show and video excerpts of previous comments by Duterte about the Philippines’ fight against illegal drug trafficking, repeating claims that critics are smearing the Filipino government’s record and urging a distinction between “fake news” and real news.
“One: There is no statesponsored killing in the Philippines. Two: There is no sudden wave of killings,” Cayetano said. “We are asking you ... to interview our people, to go to our communities, to visit the Philippines and to see for yourself: The truth, the real numbers . ... At all times, the Duterte government seeks to uphold the rule of law.”
Cayetano was speaking Monday at a review of Philippines human rights record at the council, part of a process known as the Universal Periodic Review of all 193 U.N. member states. The Philippines currently has a seat on the 47-member council, which also includes Britain, China, Cuba, Egypt, Germany, Saudi Arabia and the United States.
President Trump recently set off an uproar in Washington by inviting Duterte to the White House despite rights groups’ criticism. Human Rights Watch says Duterte’s antidrug campaign has left over 7,000 suspected dealers and users dead since he took office in June; the Manila government contests that figure.
Some countries praised the Philippines’ efforts: A Chinese delegate cited Cayetano’s “very convincing” remarks. But Germany’s envoy called for the Philippines to take “all necessary measures” to stop extrajudicial killings.
Cayetano said more than 1.2 million drug pushers and users have surrendered “voluntarily” and are “being rehabilitated.”