EJK not on Asean agenda

MANILA, Philippines -  Extrajudicial killing is not on the agenda of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

No ASEAN member has indicated an interest to be briefed by the Philippines on extrajudicial killings allegedly perpetrated under President Duterte, the DFA said.

Asked if there was an indication that ASEAN members expect a briefing from the Philippines on extrajudicial killing, Foreign Affairs spokesman Robespierre Bolivar said: “None that I know of.”

Bolivar said the Committee on Permanent Representatives only started yesterday formal meetings at the Philippine International Convention Center to prepare the groundwork for the 30th ASEAN Leaders’ Summit.

The DFA said the Philippines remains committed to combating the drug problem jointly with the ASEAN and the international community as Manila underscored the 10-nation bloc’s position of sovereign right and responsibility of each county to decide on the best approach to address the drug menace.

“We note the Asean’s position statement delivered at the 59th Commission on Narcotic Drugs special session on March 14, 2016 that reaffirmed the sovereign right and responsibility of each country to decide on the best approach to address its drug problem, taking into consideration the context and norms of its society,” Bolivar said.

“We welcome Asean’s support and understanding of our efforts in this difficult but important national endeavor,” he added.

EJK never tolerated

The DFA maintained that the government’s stand extrajudicial killing has never been tolerated by President Duterte or by any Philippine leader as the country strictly adheres to the rule of law.

This was the same message relayed by the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Evan Garcia to the Permanent Missions in Geneva in briefings on the administration’s war on drugs held from April 20-21 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, it said.

Garcia asserted the Philippines is a country where rule of law prevails and democracy is vibrant.

“The Philippines is a good international citizen. We have been and continue to be an active and dynamic partner of the UN in promoting human rights, in particular on issues on women and children’s rights, rights of indigenous peoples, rights of migrant workers and their families, economic, social and cultural rights, civil and political rights,” Garcia said.

His briefing highlighted the administration’s achievements in promoting and fulfilling the country’s commitment to human rights.

The briefing also stressed human rights initiatives of the Duterte administration in the past nine months. 

The ambassador said it was Duterte’s campaign promise to promptly address criminality and corruption that propelled him to the presidency.

He explained that the campaign against illegal drugs is based on rule of law and peace and order and its objectives include “drug demand reduction, alternative development, civic awareness and response; and regional and international cooperation.”

The ambassador stated that the Duterte administration’s commitment to care for the well being of every Filipino is the “underlying reason why the government is waging a war on illegal drugs with firm adherence to established human rights principles and the rule of law.”

He pointed out the drug menace prevents ordinary Filipinos, mainly the youth, from developing their full potentials and benefiting from the country’s socio-economic progress.

“We are trying to save the 30 million boys and girls who are under 14 years of age. They comprise almost one-third of the Philippine population. They are the country’s future,” he added.