Act on extrajudicial killings — UN Rapporteur

Manila: Instead of asking her to “tone down” her criticism of the extrajudicial killings in the Philippines, UN Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard said the government should instead ask authorities to act on the slayings.

“She should ask Gov & Police to #StopEJK (extrajudicial killings)” Callamard tweeted on Thursday two days after Philippines Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo said that negative reports on the government’s bloody campaign versus drugs is deterring tourists from visitng the country.

Callamard said the Philippines should value human life more than tourism. The incumbent UN Rapporteur — and those who had visited the country before her to check on the human rights situation on the country — always had criticisms on how the administration handled this particular concern.

During the administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and President Benigno Aquino III, the state was criticised by the UN for abetting torture and abduction of suspects.

But it was only during the administration of Duterte that the government openly admitted to backing the killing of drug personalities.

During an interview in Thailand where she was part of President Rodrigo Duterte’s official contingent last Tuesday, Tulfo-Teo asked the press not to highlight the killings taking place in the country. “I would always say it’s safe in the Philippines … To the media, please tone down a little the extrajudicial killings,” she said.

Reports said the continuing campaign by the government against drugs has resulted in the killing of at least several thousand criminals connected with drug trade, law enforcers and civilians.

Upon taking office in July 2016, Duterte unleashed a bloody drive to weed out drug pushers who he said was destroying the fabric of the society.

But while Duterte and his administration is solidly behind the anti-drugs drive, his Vice-President Leni Robredo has criticised the campaign. Last week Robredo sent a video to the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs criticising the way the ‘war’ against illegal drugs was being conducted.