Cayetano says Callamard not fit to probe PH human rights record

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PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Senator Alan Cayetano on Wednesday claimed that United Nations Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard was not fit to do her job.

Cayetano arrived in Cambodia from Switzerland where he co-headed a group of Filipino officials who defended the government’s human rights record before the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

“I’m not saying that we convince them (UN) that it’s not so,” he told reporters, referring to claims or extrajudicial killings related to the Duterte administration’s war against drugs. “But we open their eyes and mind and heart that there’s two sides to the story.”

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He said while United Nations usually ordered independent investigations, the special rapporteur is “not a prosecutor who will come and judge” a government.

“They will go and work with the government to find the problem and recommend,” said Cayetano who was just named as the next foreign affairs secretary by Duterte.

The former Duterte running mate said they told the United Nations Commission on Human Rights that they will welcome a probe “as long as (the investigator) is independent and fair.”

“Kasi ang problema kay Dr. Callamard ay meron silang ideology sa human rights eh,” Cayetano said. “Yung ideology nila ay based doon sa paniniwala na ang drugs kailangang i-decriminalize, lalo ‘yung possession for personal use.”

(The problem with Dr. Callamard is that she has an ideology on human rights. That ideology is based on the belief that dealing with drugs should be decriminalized, especially possession of drugs for personal use.)

He said Callamard already had a judgment even before she arrived in the Philippines.

He also said Callamard was not even an expert on extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances. Cayetano said she was teaching government accountability and communications at Columbia University.