Palace tells UN to look into how its human rights experts ought to conduct business

November 22, 2017

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights should look into how its human rights experts conduct their business, Malacanang said on Wednesday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque issued the statement after UNHCHR, through its spokesperson Rupert Colville, deplored what it considers as "repeated insults and threats of physical violence" against UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions Agnes Callamard, allegedly by President Rodrigo Duterte and his supporters.

Roque said Callamard is "not a competent and impartial rapporteur" on the Philippines' anti-drug campaign.

"The way she conducted herself does not befit her office," he said, citing Callamard's unannounced trip to the country in May this year "even while the terms of her official visit were still being finalized."

Roque added that being appointed recently as Presidential Adviser on Human Rights concurrent to his being the Presidential Spokesperson, he would take steps to ensure that the Philippines discharges its obligations in protecting and promoting human rights, especially the right to life.

Callamard has wanted to come to the Philippines to check on the alleged extrajudicial killings of drug suspects.

But Duterte has set conditions before she could visit the country. Callamard, however, did not accept Duterte's conditions, such as conducting a public debate with him.

Roque accused Callamard of using an event organized by a group that was "extremely critical" of the administration and presenting herself as a resource person in a forum held at the University of the Philippines and during the anniversary of the Commission on Human Rights last May.

"Her arrogance in going through the back-door not only went against protocol, but is deeply insulting," he said.

"We therefore hope that Spokesperson Colville would also take time to look into the manner on how human rights experts ought to conduct their business with and in States concerned, i.e., in an unbiased and transparent manner free of all political machinations in accordance with their code of conduct and ethics," Roque stressed.

Colville has condemned the treatment by Duterte and his supporters to Callamard, saying this also shows "disrespect" to the Human Rights Council that appointed her.

According to Colville, Callamard has been subjected to "a tirade of online abuse, including physical threats, during what appears to be a prolonged and well-orchestrated trolling operation across the internet and on social media."

"This campaign, coupled with the repeated personal attacks on Ms. Callamard by President Duterte, seems to be designed to intimidate her into not carrying out the mandate bestowed on her by the Human Rights Council," he has said.

Roque said the Palace notes Colville's concerns.

"However, he should do well not to judge the colorful language the President is known for, but by what he stands for and the values he holds dear. We need to point that the President’s remarks on Callamard were addressed to a Filipino audience who are used to the Chief Executive’s unorthodox rhetoric," he said.

Roque said that Duterte’s standing offer to host a Global Human Rights Summit, which he brought up when he was in Vietnam where he attended the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders' Meeting, shows that this administration welcomes disinterested and apolitical human rights experts in the country.

"We believe there must be a venue for dialogue where human rights, given the wide array of rights it covers, can be discussed from a global perspective and not from the view of politicized individuals," he said. Celerina Monte/DMS