Nina GENALYN D. KABILING at ROY C. MABASA
Umalma ang Malacañang kahapon sa mabibigat na pahayag ng United Nations Special Rapporteurs sa diumano’y mga paglabag sa karapatang pantao sa Pilipinas, ngunit hindi man lamang kinuha ang panig ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte.
Sinabi ni Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Kristian Ablan na dapat ay nakipag-ugnayan man lamang ang UN experts sa Office of the President (OP) tungkol sa kanilang ulat sa sitwasyon ng mga karapatang pantao sa bansa.
“The article mentions that the the UN human rights experts has been in contact with the government of the Philippines regarding these concerns. We are curious what agencies of government did they coordinated with. As far as the PCO is concerned, OP has not been contacted by the UNHR (United Nations Human Rights Council),” ani Ablan sa news conference sa Palasyo.
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“If it’s perhaps the CHR (Commission on Human Rights), then we’d like to reach out to the UN to coordinate with the OP,” dagdag niya.
Sa nagkakaisang panawagan ng pagkilos na inilabas nitong unang bahagi ng linggo, hinimok ng United Nations Special Rapporteurs ang gobyerno ng Pilipinas na kaagad tugunan ang dumaraming ulat ng mga paglabag sa karapatang pantao, kabilang ang mga pagpatay, pambabanta laban sa mga katutubo at summary execution ng mga bata.
Idiniin ng mga eksperto ng UN na “attacks are spiralling against many groups in society and we are making an urgent appeal for Government action.”
“We are witnessing severe, multiple human rights violations, especially against indigenous peoples and human rights defenders,” saad sa joint statement ng mga eksperto.
“Children are not being spared and continue to be at high risk in a climate of prevailing violence”.
“We are shocked by the increasing levels of violence, killings, intimidation and harassment being suffered by human rights defenders – including those protecting indigenous peoples - trade union organizers, farmers and their family members.”
Ang mga UN experts na ito ay sina Agnes Callamard, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; Michel Forst, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; at Ms. Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children.
Idinagdag din nila na “allegations of summary executions, including of children, are also on the rise. All these cases must be investigated thoroughly and perpetrators should be brought to justice.”
Inilarawan ni Ablan ang mga pahayag ng UN experts na “very strongly worded,” gayunman umaasa pa rin sila ng “more detailed report” sa mga alegasyon.
Nang tanungin kung imbitado pa rin si Callamard na bumisita sa bansa, sinabi ni Ablan na: “I’ll be coordinating with the Office of the President regarding if that invitation still stands.”
