Malacañang shrugs off int’l body plan to probe rights violations

MANILA – Malacañang on Thursday shrugged off plans made by a recently-launched international commission to investigate alleged human rights violations in the country, insisting that the Philippines has a fully-functional justice system to ensure human rights are protected.

The recently-launched Investigate PH, composed of leaders of international lawyers’ groups, political leaders, and global church groups, was formed to gather information about the human rights issues in the country.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the Palace is unbothered by the commission’s plan to submit a report to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and International Criminal Court (ICC) after its investigation, insisting that the Duterte administration continues to uphold human rights.

“Hindi po kami nababahala diyan dahil ang obligasyon po ng mga bansa pagdating sa karapatang pangtao ay siguruhin na magkaroon po ng remedy ang mga biktima doon sa sarili niyang mga institusyon na gumagana (We are not worried about that because it is the obligation of a country, when it comes to human rights, to ensure that the victims have remedies in their own institutions that work),” he said in a Palace press briefing.

Roque, a lawyer, also pointed out that there are enough remedies for victims of human rights violations.

“Consistent po ang posisyon natin. Gumagana po ang ating sistemang legal (Our position is consistent. Our legal system is functioning). If they have complaints, they can file before the prosecutor’s office if they already have the evidence, kung wala, magfile sila sa pulisya o sa NBI (If they don’t, they can just file cases before the police or National Bureau of Investigation),” he added.

Roque again cited the principle of complementarity in which the ICC can only investigate crimes against humanity if local courts are unable or unwilling to do so.

“Ang ICC po gagana lang ‘yan kapag unwilling or unable ang mga institusyon na kasuhan ang mga gumagawa ng krimen (The ICC will only function of institutions in the country are unwilling or unable to file cases against those who commit crimes),” he added.

In a statement, Investigate PH or the Independent International Commission of Investigation into Human Rights Violations in the Philippines said it was created under a resolution of the 45th UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session in October last year.

“Investigate PH is a critical space of solidarity and accompaniment of the people of the Philippines as it investigates the blatant violation and violence related to the basic human rights of people,” said commissioner Rev. Michael Blair, who is also the general secretary of the United Church of Canada’s General Council.

According to the commission, over 200 people from lawyers organizations, civil society, and churches from different countries came together to manifest their support for the global project.

The resolution was pushed with the victims and the international community’s demand for an independent probe on the country on alleged rights abuses.