(Eagle News)–Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Saturday, Oct. 13, said the Philippines’ reelection to the United Nations Human Rights Council was “recognition that our government respects human rights and will not tolerate abuse by those in authority.”
In a statement, Panelo said the reelection was a “repudiation of the critics and detractors on President Duterte’s unrelenting war against illegal drugs.”
He said with the reelection, the UN-HRC acknowledges the administration’s campaign against illegal drugs, corruption, and criminality was “essential to the protection of the right to life, liberty and property of every peace-loving and law-abiding citizen of our State.”
It is tantamount to “affirming the Philippines’ brand of human rights advocacy under the Duterte administration as truly responsive to our people’s needs and aspirations for a better and more dignified life,” he added.
Apart from the Philippines, Bahrain, Cameroon, Somalia, Bangladesh and Eritrea secured a seat in the council on Friday.
To secure a seat, a country must get at least 97 votes from the countries that comprise the UN General Assembly.
