PH vows cooperation with UNHRC to address rights issues

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang welcomed on Thursday the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution offering the Philippines “technical assistance and capacity-building” to address extrajudicial killings and human rights violations.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque vowed that the government will cooperate with the UNHRC in its efforts as he thanked the international body for “trusting” the country’s institutions addressing such issues.

“Tama po naman yung kanilang ginawang resolusyon at nagpapasalamat po kami. Yan po ay nagpapakita na nagtitiwala pa rin ang UN Human Rights Council sa mga institusyon para mapanagot po ang mga lumalabag sa karapatang pantao ng ating mga kababayan,” Roque said in an online briefing.

(The resolution they passed was right and we are thankful. It shows that the UN Human Rights Council trusts the institutions tasked to address human rights violators.)

“So we will fully cooperate po with the UN Human Rights system dahil yan naman po ang gusto natin. We are not saying we’re perfect. Kaya nga kung gusto ninyo, wag niyo na kami pulaan, tulungan niyo na lang kami,” he went on.

(We will fully cooperate with the UN Human Rights system because that’s what we want. We are not saying we’re perfect. That’s why if you want, don’t criticize us and help us instead.)

Instead of an independent investigation, the UNHRC resolution recognized government initiatives to address human rights violations under the administration’s war against illegal drugs.

The resolution also urged member states of the UN to “encourage and support technical cooperation” between the Philippine government and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

EDV