(Eagle News)–Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano emphasized the Philippines’ respect for human rights before the international community during the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
“The Philippines and President Duterte are instituting all these reforms to be able to protect the rights of every single Filipino and every single human being living in the Philippines,” Cayetano said.
According to Cayetano, the country, however, will always choose to protect the rights of law-abiding citizens and law enforcers over the rights of drug lords and criminals who allegedly seek to kill.
“Wouldn’t you do the same? Which country, which leader wouldn’t do the same and protect your citizens and protect your law enforcers?” he asked.
He said that while “we may sometimes differ in how we express ourselves, yet this should not be interpreted as turning our backs on the universal declaration on human rights.”
According to Cayetano, Duterte’s reforms have also prevented the country from becoming a narco-state.
The UN has criticized President Duterte for his war on drugs, prompting the chief executive to lash out at the body for what he said was its interference in Phiippine affairs.
