Duterte assures gov’t to uphold human rights

July 28, 2020

President Rodrigo Duterte, who is facing a complaint before the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity, has vowed that the government would fight for human rights.

"Rest assured that we will not dodge our obligation to fight for human rights," Duterte said in his fifth State of the Nation Address on Monday.

The Duterte administration has been criticized locally and abroad for alleged extrajudicial killings of drugs suspects in the country. Over 5,000 individuals have been killed in the anti-drug operations of the government since Duterte assumed office in 2016.

But the President said that freedom from illegal drugs and other criminality is a human right.

"My administration always believed that freedom from illegal drugs, terrorism, corruption and criminality is itself a (human right)," he said.

He cited some of the actions being taken by his administration to uphold human rights.

"Part of our efforts to uphold human rights is protection of the rights of children and the right against discrimination," Duterte said. 

He cited that in early last year, he signed Executive Order No. 92 creating the National Council Against Child Labor. 

"Government efforts to protect the rights of children will be amplified to prevent, reduce and eliminate any form of child labor," the Chief Executive said.

"Our achievements along these lines have been extolled by an overwhelming number of our fellow member-States in the UN Human Rights Council, during its recently held 44th session last June," he added. Celerina Monte/DMS