Sen. Francis Escudero urged on Thursday the government to take seriously calls made by UN member states to look into the alleged extrajudicial killings of drug suspects in the country, but said he believed President Duterte’s tough talk did not instantly make him a rights violator.
Escudero was reacting to calls made early this week by 45 of 47 UN member states in the UN Human Rights Council for the Philippines to stop and look into the alleged summary executions of drug suspects in its war on drugs.
They made the call after a 16-member Philippine delegation co-headed by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano presented the human rights situation in the country. Critics slammed the presentation as “sanitized” amid many drug-related killings by vigilantes.
Speaking at the Kapihan sa Senado forum, Escudero said he did not think Cayetano was being dishonest but could have been “confrontational” in defending the administration.
“Maybe next time, it would be better if the presentation would be calmer, less confrontational and give much attention in seeking understanding on the style and attitude as well as the way President Duterte speaks,” Escudero said.