PHL to UN human rights chief: Duterte never issued 'shoot to kill' on drug suspects

PHL to UN human rights chief: Duterte never issued 'shoot to kill' on drug suspects

The Philippines on Wednesday belied the statement of the United Nations’ top human rights official that President Rodrigo Duterte has a shoot to kill order for drug suspects.

Ambassador Cecilia B. Rebong, the Philippines’ Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, said the report delivered by the High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein was inaccurate.

Delivering the Philippine statement on the second day of the 33rd Session of the Human Rights Council in response to Al Hussein’s report, Rebong said Duterte has never empowered police officers to “shoot to kill” any individual whom they claim to suspect of drug crimes.

“What he said was the police have the right to defend themselves when their lives are endangered when drug suspects violently resist arrest,” Rebong said.

Al Hussein, in his opening speech at the 33rd session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Tuesday, scored Duterte’s "striking lack of understanding of our human rights institutions and the principles which keep societies safe."

"The President of the Philippines's statements of scorn for international human rights law display a striking lack of understanding of our human rights institutions and the principles which keep societies safe," Al Hussein said.

"Fair and impartial rule of law is the foundation of public confidence and security. Empowering police forces to shoot to kill any individual whom they claim to suspect of drug crimes, with or without evidence, undermines justice. The people of the Philippines have a right to judicial institutions that are impartial, and operate under due process guarantees; and they have a right to a police force that serves justice."

Rebong emphasized that the ongoing campaign against illegal drugs has the “overwhelming support of the Filipino public.”

She said it is “being waged under the leadership and direction of President Rodrigo Duterte, with a firm adherence to the rule of law, due process, and human rights principles.”

Duterte’s war on drugs, according to estimates, has left more than 3,000 suspected drug pushers and users dead, either in police operations or vigilante killings, more than two months since he took his oath of office.

Unparalleled in tenacity

It has raised concerns among human rights advocates, the UN and even Manila's long-time ally, the United States.

Despite international concerns, Rebong called the Duterte administration’s anti-illegal drug war “unparalleled in Philippine history for its level of tenacity.”

At the same time, Rebong told the UN that Duterte, in his inaugural speech, affirmed in no vague language his respect for human rights and the rule of law.

She pointed out that the President even called on civil rights organizations to report any killings which are not in accordance with his pronouncements on the anti-illegal drug campaign.

The Philippine statement, meanwhile, attributed the spike in the killings to vigilante elements and drug syndicates undertaking a purge among their ranks.

These, she said, are being carried out outside legitimate police operations.

Nevertheless, she said the Philippine government “is committed to bring the perpetrators to justice.”

Rebong said the Philippines denounces and does not resort to extra-judicial or arbitrary executions, and is gravely concerned about accusations purporting that the administration tolerates such actions.

She also emphasized that “police authorities take seriously allegations of its officers’ involvement in such activities, and follow established internal procedures for investigating and addressing such cases.”

In closing, Rebong urged the international community to support the Philippine campaign against illegal drugs and the government’s firm resolve “to pursue the anti-illegal drugs war.”

She also called on them to help “build communities conducive to the full realization of every Filipino’s right to live in peace and attain a higher standard of living that uplifts human dignity, unhindered by the scourge of illegal drugs.” —JST, GMA News