MALACAÑANG countered Tuesday the statement of United Nations' (UN) top official Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein that President Rodrigo Duterte was imposing "shoot-to-kill" policy against criminals.
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella slammed Zeid, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR), for citing cases against Duterte's drug war without "factual basis."
Abella denied that the Chief Executive gave instructions to wipe out drug personalities, noting that all drug-related deaths recorded under his watch "are subject to investigations."
"We are deeply concerned with the UNHCR Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein's sweeping statements during the UN Human Rights Council's (HRC) 36th session, citing instances bereft of factual basis," Abella said in a statement released on Tuesday night.
"Mr. Al Hussein's broad references about the supposed policies of the President run counter to what he continues to pronounce. The President has categorically and repeatedly said that there is no shoot-to-kill order. All drug killings are subject to investigations," he added.
At the 36th session of UN HRC held in Geneva September 11, Zeid expressed "grave concern" over Duterte's "open support for a shoot-to-kill policy" against suspects.
Zeid also decried the "apparent absence of credible investigation" on the executions of thousands of drug personalities, as well the "failure to prosecute" those behind their deaths.
The UN executive also expressed dismay over the President's pronouncement to absolve policemen who killed suspects who purportedly resisted arrest, following the death of 17-year-old Kian Loyd Delos Santos who was gunned down on August 16 during a legitimate drug raid in Caloocan City.
Zeid said Duterte's remark clearly showed "lack of respect for the due process rights of all Filipinos."
"The recent killing of a schoolboy who was dragged into an alley and shot in the head by plains-clothed policeman on August 16 was described by the Minister of Justice as an 'isolated case.' However, suspicion of extrajudicial killings has now become widespread that the initials EJK (extrajudicial killing) have reportedly become a verb in some communities – as in 'he was EJKed,'" Zeid said.
"Two days after hundreds of people turned out for the teenager's funeral, the President again told police they would not be punished for killing suspects who resist arrest. This lack of respect for the due process rights of all Filipinos is appalling," he added.
Abella came to Duterte's defense, saying the Chief Executive merely intends to protect the Filipinos' welfare and rid the country of illegal drugs.
"The objective of the President's campaign against illegal drugs is to preserve the lives of the Filipino people, to prevent the destruction of Filipino families, and to protect the Philippines from becoming a narco-state," said Abella.
The presidential also responded to Zeid's concerns over Duterte's supposed "threat to bomb schools for indigenous children" and "order to shoot any human rights workers who are part of the drug trade or who obstruct justice."
Zeid said he was "shocked" by the President's statements, which he described as "yet another blow to his country's reputation and his people's rights."
Abella, however, said the UN top official merely "missed" Duterte's context when he made the remarks.
"It would be better to focus on the Duterte administration's efforts to educate the indigenous people (IP). At present, there are 2,929,456 IP learners in the public school system. For next year, the IP education program will receive P130.43 million, which is largely for capacity building, program support fund for implementation of IP education at the regional and division level," Abella said.
"On the issue of human rights workers who are part of the drug trade or human rights workers who obstruct justice, the President is referring to human rights activists who aid or abet acts of violence during legitimate police operations where authorities have the right of self-defense," he added.
Abella further dismissed Zeine's allegation that detained Senator Leila de Lima, who is accused of being involved in illicit drug trade, faced a "growing number of death threats" as she stood against the current administration.
Abella explained that De Lima was put behind bars "due to criminal, not political, issues."
"For the record, it is the court, which is independent from the executive, which ordered the arrest of Senator De Lima for drug trafficking charges and for allegedly receiving money from drug dealers at the national penitentiary," he said. (SunStar Philippines)