Cayetano tells UN: Drug war ‘necessary instrument’ to preserve, protect Filipino human rights

MANILA, Philippines — Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano on Sunday defended the current administration’s war on drugs campaign before the international community saying it is necessary to uplift the human rights of all Filipinos.

Speaking at the 72^nd United Nations General Assembly, Cayetano also said the anti-illegal drugs campaign “never violate any individual group’s human rights.”

“The Philippines comprehensive campaign against illegal drugs is a necessary instrument to preserve and protect the human rights of all Filipinos,” Cayetano said in his 25-minute long speech.

Cayetano added that drug trafficking calls for stern measures always consistent with the rule of law.” He acknowledges that drug addiction calls for rehab.

The foreign affairs chief claimed that at least 59 percent of the 42,000 barangays are involved in illegal drug trade, making it “epidemic.”

 “Where is sovereignty in a country where vast numbers are addicted to drugs and enslaved to their suppliers?” Cayetano asked.

Cayetano also claimed that that the government has also seen “intimate symbiotic relationship between the illegal drug trade, terrorism and poverty.” He said terror groups bring together extremists, criminals, mercenaries and foreign fighters “who attempted but failed to take over the great city of Marawi.”

“We can no more live with drugs than with terrorism,” he added.

In his speech, Cayetano also criticized media reports which “deny the real scale” of illegal drug problem in the country. He said headlines focus on human rights abuses but neglect headlines on the effects of illegal drugs such as young people being raped and mothers selling children to feed their drug addiction.

“We should never tolerate human rights abuses. But neither should we tolerate misinformation, fake news on and politicization of human rights,” he said.

On Saturday, the Department of Foreign Affairs claimed the country "scored a big victory in Geneva" when the UN body "overwhelmingly adopted Manila's human rights report card."

Adoption of the Universal Periodic Review outcome report, however, does not only cover the Philippines' report, but also the other states' positions on its human rights record, which included calls to investigate killings.

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