Dureza eased EU fears on local drug war

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza hold a press conference after his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airpor in Pasay City. ARNOLD ALMACEN/INQUIRER

HUMAN rights and due process are being upheld in the government’s war on illegal drugs, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus G. Dureza said he assured officials of the European Union.

Dureza made the disclosure on his arrival in Manila yesterday, saying that he met with EU officials in Brussels on a side trip from the Oslo peace talks on Aug. 25.

Dureza said he told the EU officials that “we share values on the protection of human rights and due process.”

He said President Duterte had directed specific groups to look into the issues of police excesses and vigilante killings.

Dureza said the EU officials raised questions about the killings associated with the government’s antidrug campaign, having received information from the press and their embassies.

“They know what is happening here exactly because they have people here,” he said.

Dureza said many of the Philippines agreements with the 28-nation European Union hinged on human rights. One of these is the country’s Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) status that has allowed the tariff-free export of over 6,000 local products to the economic bloc since December 2014.

Core conventions

Countries under the GSP+ have to ratify 27 core international conventions, including the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Article 6 of that agreement says “every human being has the inherent right to life [and] no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life.”

On the other hand, Dureza said the EU officials were impressed by the results of the antidrug campaign.

“Aside from the fact that many had died, many surrendered voluntarily. The President has to deliver on his campaign promise,” he said.

Dureza had gone to meet with Belgian Foreign Minister Didier J.L. Reynders in preparation for the May 2017 visit of Princess Astrid for a high-level economic meeting on investments in the renewable energy and cacao sectors.

He also briefed Belgian and EU officials on the peace processes with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and National Democratic Front of the Philippines.