(Eagle News) – The Philippine government is “prepared to face any inquiry” to be conducted by the United Nations with regards to the war on drugs of President Rodrigo Duterte that has been criticized recently by more than two dozen countries, mostly from Europe.
This was according to the Philippine department of justice which stressed that the country “need not be told by anyone” on how to conduct its controversial anti-illegal drug campaign.
“With all due respect, our government need not be told by anyone, including the UN or any of its agencies to stop so-called ‘extrajudicial executions’ in our war on drugs because it has never been the policy of the government to tolerate the killing of illegal drug suspects who submit themselves peacefully to our law enforcement authorities,” said Justice secretary Menardo Guevarra.
“In any event, our government is prepared to face any inquiry if the same becomes necessary to disabuse the minds of those who rely on or give undue credence to selective, if not biased, second-hand information,” he told reporters.
Guevarra’s statement came in the wake of a draft resolution submitted by Iceland and backed by 27 other countries calling on the High Commissioner on Human Rights Michelle Bachelet to produce a “comprehensive written report” on the human rights situation in the Philippines.
Iceland’s draft wanted this comprehensive report to be presented in the UN Human Rights Council’s 44th session “to be followed by an enhanced interactive dialogue.”
The draft resolution also asked the Philippine government to fully cooperate with the UN office and its mechanisms by facilitating country visits and by “refraining from all acts of intimidation or retaliation.”
It also noted concerns raised by UN Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard regarding the drug war of President Rodrigo Duterte.
The council, which is now on its 41st session, is expected to vote on the draft resolution in the coming days.
