UN Human Rights Council Welcomes Steady Progress in the Philippine’s Human Rights Cooperation
Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva Ambassador Evan P. Garcia cites steady progress in the country’s inclusive human rights cooperation. (Geneva PM photo)
Geneva 19 October 2021 – Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) Ambassador Evan P. Garcia on 11 October 2021 highlighted the country’s long-standing tradition of human rights engagement, citing among the cooperation milestone the steady progress in the UN Joint Program on Human Rights and the continuation of the European Union Governance in Justice program into the second phase.
UN Human Rights High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet in her oral update on the progress of technical cooperation in the Philippines, cited the inclusive process in which the three-year UN Joint Program was developed, together with the UN Country Team, the Government, the Commission on Human Rights, and civil society actors, resulting in its milestone signing on 22 July 2021.
She also acknowledged institutional and policy changes to prevent human rights violations, noting in this regard the Court rulings on the issuance of search warrants and the mandatory use of body-worn cameras and alternative recording devices in police operations.
Ambassador Garcia acknowledged the UN Joint Program’s support for bolstering the Government’s reform initiatives in the areas of human rights, accountability, and rule of law. Among the priority projects are the capacity-strengthening on investigation and prosecution of cases of grave violations of human rights; improvement of information system on alleged police violations; and the human rights-based approach to drug control.
Members and observer States of the Human Rights Council acknowledged and expressed their support for the momentum of constructive and inclusive engagement on human rights in the Philippines. Many States highlighted the need for technical assistance to be made available to all requesting States without the need for a Council resolution and to ensure that the Council’s agenda on technical cooperation is depoliticized and promotes respectful dialogue and cooperation.
Work of the Review Panel in full swing
He shared that work of the Review Panel on cases of deaths in anti-illegal drugs operations is in full swing, with Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra vowing to endorse cases for case build-up and filing of criminal complaints if warranted by evidence. The Philippine National Police and Drug Enforcement Agency have shared a total of 159 case files.
“As the Review Panel reviews cases, the DOJ is closely monitoring the preliminary investigation and prosecution of 87 criminal cases lodged against over a hundred law enforcement personnel for possible wrongful conduct related to or arising from anti-illegal drugs operations,” stressed Ambassador Garcia.
He added, “our authorities are further strengthening disciplinary and accountability mechanisms with a human rights information system for recording and monitoring violations and compliances by the 200,000-strong police force nationwide. They strictly enforce the submission of post-operation reports for all drugs-related operations and the mandatory use of body-worn cameras in police operations.”
Since 2016, the PNP’s independent review unit conducted 10,437 investigations for all cases that resulted in death or injuries. Sanctions were meted out against 18,664 police personnel for various offenses, with 5,151 dismissed from the service. In September 2021, 7 policemen were charged by the DOJ with unlawful detention and murder of six victims in a fabricated operation early this year.
CPP-NPA-NDF atrocities
Regarding the High Commissioner’s report on the abuses by the ‘New People's Army’ of the Communist Party of the Philippines, including the killing of civilians, recruitment of children and extortion, Ambassador Garcia echoed these concerns of the Philippines as he cautioned the Council against groups that have misrepresented the situation in the Philippines and issues of our indigenous communities, under the cover of human rights defenders.
“We continue to call for due diligence in assessing these actors and their claims, and to safeguard civic space platforms from being exploited for criminal ends. We continue to seek UN support as we pursue the end the decades of CPP-NPA-NDF armed struggle against the Republic, against democracy and our institutions, against the Filipino people,” stressed Ambassador Garcia.
On the issue of so-called “red-tagging”, he cited the extensive public hearings in the Philippine Senate in late 2020 which resulted in the adoption of the 77-page report. This report established the sufficiency of existing legal remedies to protect the Constitutional rights of the supposed aggrieved parties, citing relevant Court decisions and opinions on the matter of red-tagging and allegations of repression of freedom of expression.
The Senate report also put a spotlight on the failure of the groups purporting themselves to be victims of red-tagging to explain the deaths of their young members in military encounters with the NPA and their refusal to dissociate themselves from and denounce the terrorist group CPP-NPA-NDF for its acts of aggression and atrocities. Our courts have also rendered relevant decisions and opinions on the matter of red-tagging and allegations of repression of freedom of expression.
Technical Cooperation
At the adoption of decisions at the 48th Human Rights Council Session, the Philippine delegation stated the country’s strong support for investments in institution building and strengthening. The Philippines supports a number of UN Voluntary Trust Funds on technical cooperation and capacity-building assistance and has also contributed USD 200,000 for the implementation of the UN Joint Program.
The Philippine delegation pointed out the need to develop a facility where States can request technical assistance and OHCHR and UN agencies can respond in a holistic and coordinated manner. “This facility will promote the much-needed depoliticization of technical assistance, specifically, ensuring that access to resources for assistance is readily available, and does not require the trigger of political resolutions,” highlighted the delegation.
The Philippines reiterated its concern that around 90% of the budget of all country resolutions are simply directed towards staff and consultant salaries and their travel. It will be recalled that the joint Philippines-Iceland resolution HRC 45/33 on technical cooperation in the Philippines adopted in September 2021 had a budgetary implication of USD 414,000 for two-year operation, of which 88% is for the salary of one P-4 level UN staff, 3% for travels, and 9% for miscellaneous expenses.
The Philippines emphasized the Human Rights Council’s duty of stewardship of public resources, amidst the competing and complex urgencies that multilateralism must address, and highlighted its desire to see more conscious effort to direct more resources toward concrete programs that directly benefit the countries concerned.
As a Human Rights Council member, the Philippines continues to advocate greater transparency in the preparation of Program Budget Implications of HRC resolutions and has committed to remain engaged in efforts to enhance the delivery of constructive and practical assistance to requesting States in the field of human rights.
Constructive dialogue and cooperation that yield meaningful and tangible results is the hallmark of Philippine human rights engagement. President Rodrigo Duterte, in his address before the UN General Assembly, has underlined the Philippine commitment to engage the UN and the international community on human rights. He affirmed the UN Joint Program on Human Rights as a model for constructive engagement between a sovereign Member State and the UN. END
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