Philippines slams UN human rights commissioner report

By Hader Glang

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philipines

The Philippine government lambasted the UN Commissioner for Human Rights, Wednesday, for criticizing President Duterte's support for a "shoot-to-kill policy" against drug suspects as part of his war on drugs.

In a press statement on Wednesday, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Peter Cayetano said the report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein contained deliberate misinformation.

"He (Zeid) severely mischaracterized the situation in the country in his report to the Human Rights Council," he said.
According to Cayetano, last May, the Philippines provided the Human Rights Council (HRC) with all the facts regarding the campaign against illegal drugs in its report to the Third Cycle of the Universal Periodic Review.

During the HRC's 36th session in Geneva Sept. 11, Zeid told the UN assembly that “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."

Cayetano brushed off Zein's statement, saying that the Commissioner’s report would have been balanced and accurate had he considered the information they provided, instead of just relying on information.

The DFA secretary reiterated the commitment of the Philippines to continue constructively engaging with the UN Human Rights Council.

"The Philippines has actively participated in the Universal Periodic Review process (UPR), and was one of the first countries to undergo the review in 2008, having championed the establishment of the UPR process under the UN Human Rights Council Mechanism,” he said.