Terror tag on UN rapporteur a retaliation by Duterte admin — rights expert

MANILA, Philippines — United Nations human rights experts raised alarm over the petition listing a Filipina special rapporteur as a terrorist. 

UN special rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples Victoria Tauli-Corpuz was named in a petition filed by the Department of Justice filed last month, accused of terrorism and alleged membership in the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army.

UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders Michel Forst and Coordination Committee of the Special Procedures chairperson Catalina Devandas-Aguilar stressed that the legal petition listing Corpuz’ name is an “unacceptable attack.”

“We are shocked that the special rapporteur is being targeted because of her work defending the rights of indigenous peoples,” the UN experts said Friday.

READ: Terrorist petition a ‘virtual hit list’ — Human Rights Watch

Both said that the allegation hurled at Corpuz stemmed from her comments on the militarization, attacks and killings of indigenous Lumad by members of the armed forces in Mindanao.

“This accusation is considered as an act of retaliation for such comments,” the experts said.

They added: “The attack against the special rapporteur is taking place in the context of widespread extrajudicial executions and ongoing attacks against voices who are critical of the current government, including human rights defenders. The president has himself publicly intimidated special rapporteurs.”

Forst and Aguilar, moreover, called on the Philippine government to drop the “unfounded” accusations against Corpuz and ensure her safety and that of the others listed.

“Ms. Tauli-Corpuz is a human rights defender. Therefore, the government of the Philippines has a duty under the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders to guarantee her right to promote and to strive for the realization of human rights,” the experts said.

Former Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo, CPP founder Jose Maria Sison, former National Democratic Front of the Philippines chief negotiator Luis Jalandoni, NDFP consultant Rafael Baylosis and alleged CPP leaders Benito and William Tiamzon were also included on the list of terrorist.

READ: Government seeks ‘terrorist’ tag for 600 suspected Reds

‘Don’t embarrass the Philippines’

Last December, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. told Corpuz and UN special rapporteur on internally displaced people Cecilia Jimenez-Damary not to use their positions to embarrass the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte in the international community. 

Roque’s reaction came after Corpuz and Damary issued a joint statement warning the government of a “massive” impact of military operations on the indigenous people in Mindanao following the one-year extension of martial law in the southern Philippines.

“They are suffering massive abuses of their human rights, some of which are potentially irreversible. We fear the situation could deteriorate further if the extension of martial law until the end of 2018 results in even greater militarization,” the special rapporteurs said.

They urged the government to ensure that military personnel do not engage in violations of human rights of indigenous people.

UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings Agnes Callamard has also earned the administration’s ire for criticizing the government’s ferocious drug war.