United Nation official reacts again regarding the
administration’s war on drugs.
During the 36th session of the Human Rights Council last
Sept. 11, United Nations Commissioner
for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, tagged the Philippines as among the
countries with human rights issues.
This was not the first time that Zeid slammed
Duterte’s drug war. *
United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al
Hussein, tagged the Philippines as among the countries with human rights
issues.(photo credit to owner)
|
He condemns the administration of President Rodrigo Roa
Duterte, human rights violations which include the August 16 slay of a teenager
in the hands of Philippine National
Police in Caloocan city.
Zeid, specifically highlights the killing of Grade 11
student Kian Loyd delos Santos, whose death allegedly sparked public anger over
the conduct of Duterte’s unrelenting and brutal war on drugs.
Citing Duterte's promise to protect cops who would kill drug
suspects who resist arrest, Zeid said he was “appalled” by the
government's apparent “lack of respect” for due process.
The UN rights chief also marked Duterte’s his full support for cops carrying out his
brutal war against suspected drug personalities.
“In the Philippines, I continue to be gravely
concerned by the President's open support for a shoot-to-kill policy regarding
suspects, as well as by the apparent absence of credible investigations into
reports of thousands of extrajudicial killings, and the failure to prosecute
any perpetrator,” Zeid said.
“This lack of respect for the due process
rights of all Filipinos is appalling,” he added.
Last year, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
slammed UN Commissioner Zeid for his statement
that the president should be investigated for murder, calling the UN official a
“joke” and an “ idiot”. *
In the same speech, Zeid also hit the President
for his pronouncements ordering the police force to shoot human rights
defenders as well as the case of detained Sen. Leila de Lima, one of the
president’s fiercest critics.
Zeid also took the occasion to express his
“shock” over Duterte’s threat to bomb Lumad schools allegedly run by communists and
the administration’s plan to reimpose death penalty.
“Many human rights defenders who are the honour
of their country face a growing number of death threats, and I call on the
Government to ensure they are accorded full protection and the right to freedom
of expression and peaceful assembly without reprisals,” Zeid said.
Report from PhilStar
0 comments