Roque: Gov’t to invite Callamard to swim in Pasig River

United Nations special rapporteur Agnes Callamard. Photo by NIÑO JESUS ORBETA / PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said on Saturday the government would invite United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard to swim in the Pasig River when she visits the Philippines.

Roque made the remark when asked what the Philippine government would do if Callamard decides to come into the country as a tourist and decides to conduct an investigation into alleged extrajudicial killings.

“Nakapasok na nga iyan ng Pilipinas ng hindi ininvite eh. Welcome po siya dahil after all, we welcome all tourists. Kaya lang ang masama doon, huwag niya palabasin na nag-imbestiga siya,” Roque said in a press briefing in Katipunan, Zamboanga del Norte.
(She even entered the Philippines without being invited. She’s welcome because, after all, we welcome all tourists. However, she should not make it appear that she had done an investigation.)

“Kung siya ay papasok, sabihin nya nagkaroon sya ng obserbasyon bilang turista. Pag pumasok po siya, aanyayahin namin siya lumangoy sa malamig na tubig ng Pasig River,” the presidential spokesman said.
(If ever she enters the Philippines, she should say that she had done some observation as a tourist. When she enters, we will invite her to swim in the cool water of Pasig River.)

READ: Palace open to UN probe on drug war but not conducted by Callamard

Earlier, Roque said that the UN can send any rapporteur to conduct an investigation into alleged human rights violations in the Philippines as long as it would not be Callamard.

“If they are going to send a special rapporteur to the Philippines, it must be someone credible, someone who is an authority in the field that seeks to investigate in and must be objective and unbiased,” he said. /jpv