PH government hounded by persistent concerns on extrajudicial
killings, disappearances and torture at UN rights review
By Philippine UPR Watch
May
29, 2012
GENEVA – As the Chief Justice of the Philippines was being handed
down a verdict in the impeachment trial, the Philippine government was
also undergoing a similar process of accountability, this time before
the United Nations.
Around 69 countries quizzed the Philippine government on its human
rights record, Tuesday, May 29 in Geneva, Switzerland. The Philippines
participated in the second cycle of the Universal Periodic Review of
the United Nations Human Rights Council. One after the other, at least
22 countries expressed concerns on the continuing spate of
extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and torture in
particular, and impunity in general, according to the Philippine UPR
Watch. Several countries also called on the Philippine government to
dismantle all paramilitary groups and militias.
The Australian mission urged the Philippine government to arrest
fugitive Gen. Jovito Palparan, who is wanted for the abduction of two
UP activists. The UK, Spain and the Holy See called on the Philippine
government to “completely eradicate extrajudicial killings”.
The United States said that “impunity in human rights violations”
continued. It cited institutional barriers to the attainment of
justice for victims of rights abuse. Ireland called for “decisive
measures” to address the problems. Germany urged the strengthening of
accountability mechanisms and the conduct of impartial investigations
in cases involving state forces, reminding the PH government of the
recommendations of Prof. Philip Alston, former Special Rapporteur on
Extrajudicial, Summary and Arbitrary Executions. The Netherlands asked
that the issue of impunity be addressed and called for the
prosecution, trial and conviction of perpetrators. Denmark called for
the full implementation of the anti-torture law, saying that state
forces are still involved in abuses.
Spain and Canada called for the dismantling of all paramilitary groups
and militias, a position that has gained support after the Maguindanao
massacre in 2009, with the latter mincing no words, saying that
despite training programs on human rights for security forces, human
rights violations are “still serious and all too widespread.” Belgium
asked the PH government on measures to record cases of EJKs and urged
the Philippines to ratify the convention against enforced
disappearances. Austria expressed concerns over attacks on journalists
and cases of torture.
France said it was “alarmed by extrajudicial killings and enforced
disappearances and continuing violations against journalists and human
rights defenders”. Japan echoed this, saying “extrajudicial killings
continue as a significant political issue.”
The questions and comments from the foreign missions were directed to
the GPH delegation headed by Philippine Justice Secretary Leila de
Lima.
At least six countries meanwhile asked the Philippines to act on
requests of UN special rapporteurs who want to visit the Philippines
to examine the rights situation in the country. To this, de Lima
remarked that they are still studying the requests and said the PH
government cannot act on all requests because of alleged shortage in
resources.
“We view the questions and statements of continuing concern by the
different foreign missions as very telling. It shows even greater
interest by the international community on the human rights situation.
They know that the Philippine government has not lived up to its
commitment to completely eliminate extrajudicial killings, enforced
disappearances and torture. The language used may have been
diplomatic, but clearly the international community wants the
Philippine government to do more,” said Fr. Jonash Joyohoy of the
National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) and co-head of
delegation of the Philippine UPR Watch.
Present during the session were two Filipino human rights victims, Fil-Am
activist and torture and disappearance survivor Melissa Roxas and
Aklan municipal councilor Ernan Baldomero, son of slain councilor
Fernando Baldomero, the first victim of extrajudicial killing under
the Aquino administration.
Leaders from Karapatan, NCCP, Tanggol Bayi, NUPL, Bayan, KAMP,
MCPA-Kawagib, Children’s Rehabilitation Center, Defend Job
Philippines, Migrante, Cordillera People’s Alliance, Promotion of
Church People’s Response, IFI-Ramento Project for Rights Defenders,
Migrante International, International Coordinating Committee on Human
Rights in the Philippines (ICCHRP) and Campaign for Human Rights in
the Philippines-United Kingdom and CHRP-Switzerland also attended the
session. Prior to the start of the session, the UPR Watch delegates
flashed their I-Pads bearing calls to end extrajudicial killings and
impunity in the Philippines.
“The questions raised by the foreign missions were nearly identical to
the questions we have submitted to them prior to the UN session. Human
rights defenders, the victims and their families have submitted
reports that belie the overstated achievements of the Philippine
government. We count 76 victims of extradjudicial killings since
Aquino took office. While the PH government now claims a dramatic
decline in the killings, – no thanks to its supposed efforts – our
data shows that the PH government has not lived up to its commitment
to eliminate these violations altogether,” said Karapatan chair Marie
Enriquez.
Selective presentation of data
Atty. Edre Olalia, secretary general of the National Union of People’s
Lawyers and also a UPR Watch delegate commented that the Philippine
report was very selective in its presentation of data. “The report
tends to highlight lesser achievements by gloating over showcase steps
it has belatedly done while conveniently drowning the more essential
issues such as the almost nil conviction rate of perpetrators of
rights abuses, the failure of the Aquino government to press charges
and arrest suspects, and the continuing effects of the government’s
counter-insurgency program on the people. There is basically deafening
silence from the GPH on all these issues,” he said.
Even on the issue of social and economic rights, the GPH report was
very selective in its presentation, says Bayan secretary general
Renato Reyes, Jr. “They highlighted so-called achievements in the
conditional cash transfer program while glossing over rising poverty,
unemployment and hunger,” Reyes said.
“While Aquino and his allies whoop it up in their victory in the
Corona impeachment, human rights victims are still fighting for the
longest time for accountability from a state that continues to commit
and condone abuses with shameless impunity,” Reyes added.
At the
end of the review, the whole Philippine UPR Watch, who were all seated
in one long row inside the session hall of the Palais des Nations and
wearing different pins with various calls for justice and
accountability, simultaneously gave a thumbs-down sign of the
Philippine report.