Thursday, July 06, 2006
UN human rights body to probe violations in RP
SENATOR Ma. Ana Consuelo "Jamby" Madrigal said the UN High Commission on Human Rights will look into the escalating cases of human rights violations in the country.
Madrigal said Ambeyi Ligabo, special rapporteur on freedom of expression and opinions of the UN High Commission on Human Rights, made the commitment to her during their meeting in Geneva, Switzerland.
"Senator (Madrigal), you have my full support. You have me and the Human Rights Council behind you. When the Philippines comes under peer review, it will be under tight scrutiny. It has to explain why this is happening," she quoted Ligabo as saying.
Madrigal presented to Ligabo pieces of evidence on the use of violence on street protests, warrantless arrests, and the use of calibrated preemptive response (CPR) in dealing with protestors.
"The UN special rapporteur has taken cognizance of my complaint where I have submitted to him (Ligabo) documents and video materials to substantiate my complaint. We have no recourse but to go to the UN to prevent impunity and to stop draconian rule in our country," she said.
Madrigal went to Geneva last June 18 to personally bring to the attention of the UN High Commission on Human Rights the alleged worsening human rights condition in the Philippines amidst the spate of extrajudicial killings, warrantless arrests, and "curtailment of freedom of expression".
The senator, who had incurred the ire of the Arroyo government for signing a joint communique with the National Democratic Front (NDF) and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in the Netherlands, came back Wednesday afternoon.
She did not comment on the government's adverse reaction to her meeting with NDF officials. (REC/Sunnex)
(July 6, 2006 issue)
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