Gov’t bucks human rights report

THE PHILIPPINE government urged experts producing country reports on human rights to “update their references” and “examine their methodologies,” citing discrepancies with developments on the ground under the Marcos administration.

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has expressed regret over the United States’ Department of State report, which concluded that there were “no significant changes” in the human rights situation in the Philippines.

Citing the 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, the US State Department noted continued extrajudicial killings and politically motivated violence in the country.

“We regret that this assessment does not reflect the situation on the ground, including accomplishments of the Philippine government on the human rights and good governance agenda,” the DFA said.

It called on the experts producing the report to “exercise due diligence on their sources to ensure a fair and more reliable reporting on the human rights situation in the Philippines.”

“Our human rights reform agenda stands on solid ground under the Marcos administration,” the DFA said. ”

However, Amnesty International also criticized President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and his administration on Wednesday for ignoring human rights concerns.

“[President Marcos] turned his back on human rights by ignoring the calls of the victims of human rights violations, especially extra-judicial killings (EJKs),” said Amnesty International Philippines Section Director Jose Noel “Butch” D. Olano during the launch of their 2023/24 State of the World’s Human Rights report.

The group noted that EJKs persisted under the “war on drugs” during Mr. Marcos’s administration, despite promises to focus on treatment and rehabilitation.

The report cited the University of the Philippines’ research group Dahas, which recorded at least 329 people killed in 2023 by authorities during police-led anti-drug operations.

Mr. Olano said more than 600 people were killed in the first 19 months of Marcos’s leadership.

National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) President Ephraim B. Cortez also expressed concern over these incidents. “While there is a change in the administration, the structures that allowed EJKs to pervade are still in place,” Mr. Cortez said.

“There is no re-orientation of law enforcers primarily in charge of the implementation of the Government’s anti-illegal drug campaign. They still have the same mindset,” he added. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana