DFA rejects call for rights inquiry by UN experts

June 9, 2019

The Department of Foreign Affairs ( DFA) has rejected the call of independent United Nations experts for an international inquiry into human rights under the Duterte administration, calling it an act of "bad faith".

"This action indicates the refusal of these parties to engage in true dialogue. By ignoring the accountability and other information provided by the Philippines in good faith, these parties show their bias and political agenda and assail the credibility and objectivity of the human rights mechanisms as constructive platforms of dialogue between the UN and the member states," a DFA statement on Saturday said.

On Friday, 11 independent experts urged the UN Human Rights Council, whose 47 member states open a three-week session on June 24, to launch an independent investigation into what they claim was a sharp deterioration in human rights across the Philippines due to "staggering number" of what they call violent and unlawful killings of drug suspects.

Authorities report more than 5,000 suspected  drug personalities have been killed in police operations nationwide since Duterte became president in 2016.

Malacañang called it an "intellectually challenged" move and an "outrageous interference" in Philippine policies.

"The Philippines is a democratic nation with strong institutions and the government has an unshakeable determination to promote and protect the human rights of every Filipino," the DFA statement said.

"We reject this call as it is being made in bad faith by parties who want to undermine domestic processes and spread disinformation, on the basis of one-sided reports coming from questionable sources." DMS