MANILA, Philippines — Saying “human and people’s rights violations have spiraled, with the drug war, counterinsurgency program and martial law in Mindanao,” just four months after the United Nations Human Rights Council reviewed the country’s record, rights organizations are seeking international support “for the Filipino peoples’ campaign against President Rodrigo Duterte’s tyrannical rule.”
In May, when the Philippines went through the Universal Periodic Review of the UNHRC, countries that participated in the process made recommendations, many urging Manila to end the thousands of extrajudicial killings that have marked the government’s war on drugs, and to strengthen mechanisms to protect human rights.
On September 22, these recommendations will be up for adoption by the UNHRC’s 36th Session.
But Ephraim Cortez, secretary general of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers and co-head of Philippine UPR Watch, said: “The Duterte regime has been totally disregarding these recommendations urging the State to protect and uphold international human rights obligations.”
In fact, Cortez said, soon after the UPR, Duterte imposed martial law in Mindanao, a move he claimed has “emboldened the Philippine state security forces to commit more human rights violations with impunity.”
Cortez’ head of delegation, Romeo Clamor of the human rights group Karapatan, said: “Duterte totally disregard(s) the clamor of the Filipino people, including that of human rights defenders and social movements whom he sees as enemies of the State. Recently, he stepped up his rants against those who have condemned and called for the justice of the victims of extrajudicial killings. He sees these groups as a hindrance in his drug war and his all-out war.”
“We call on the international community, especially member States of the UN Human Rights Council, to continue and strengthen their support against tyrannical rule of the Duterte administration,” Clamor said.
Aside from Cortez and Clamor, Philippine UPR Watch is made up of the following delegates:
- Eufemia Cullamat
- Amirah Lidasan, Sandugo
- Sharon Cabusao, Gabriela
- Mary Joan Guan, Center for Women’s Resources
- Eule Bonganay, Childrens’ Rehabilitation Center
- Johanna Dela Cruz, National Council of Churches in the Philippines
- Maria Teofelina Morales, wife of Bishop Carlo Morales and from NCCP
- Beverly Longid, IPMSDL-RMP
- Antonio Flores, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas
- Angie Gonzales and Doris Wilson of the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines
Other member organizations are: Bagong AlyansangMakabayan, Center for Trade Union and Human Rights, Children’s Rehabilitation Center, Confederation for Unity Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees, Cordillera People’s Alliance, Center for Women’s Rights, IBON Foundation, Initiatives Peace Mindanao, KALUMARAN, Migrante International, Moro-Christian Peoples’ Alliance, Ramento Project for Rights Defenders-Iglesia Filipina Independiente, SALINLAHI Alliance for Children’s Concerns, KAWAGIB– Alliance for the Advancement of Moro Human Rights.
