DILG: Phl delegation cleared the air with UNCHR re Phl drug campaign, brings home support ~ HUMAN RIGHTS PROMOTIONS

Friday, May 19, 2017

DILG: Phl delegation cleared the air with UNCHR re Phl drug campaign, brings home support

Friday, May 19, 2017 Herbert Curia - Promoter No comments

From the Website of DILG
links: http://www.dilg.gov.ph/news/DILG-Phl-delegation-cleared-the-air-with-UNCHR-re-Phl-drug-campaign-brings-home-support/NC-2017-1116

DILG: Phl delegation cleared the air with UNCHR re Phl drug campaign, brings home support

Aside from clearing the air on the Philippine drug campaign, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Monday said the Philippine delegation to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR)’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in Geneva, Switzerland on May 8 also brought home various support from other countries.

DILG Assistant Secretary for Plans and Programs Epimaco V. Densing III, who was part of the Philippine delegation, said that after their presentation before the UPR body, Japan expressed support to the drug rehabilitation program of the Philippine government.

UPR is a unique mechanism of the Human Rights Council (HRC) aimed at improving the human rights situation on the ground of each of the 193 UN Member States. The result of each review is reflected in an “outcome report” listing the recommendations on the State under review (SuR) which it will have to implement before the next review.

Densing said that they learned in Geneva that misinformed opinion of the international community on government’s drug campaign was sourced from letters from non-government organizations and political opposition in the Philippines.

“Nakakalungkot na kapwa Pilipino ang naninira sa bansa. Kung tayo’y magtutulungan ay malayo ang mararating ng ating bayan,” said Densing.

Also with Densing were Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, Philippine National Police (PNP) Human Rights Affairs Office (HRAO) Director, Chief Superintendent Dennis Siervo, and other government officials.

Siervo said that their delegation was also able to gather support for the police force to have capacity development on human rights.

Their delegation also conveyed the PNP’s need for financial assistance in printing “Miranda Warning” and “Anti-Torture Warning” cards that are required by Philippine law to be issued to a suspect before being arrested.

Siervo also called on the media to “be part of the information campaign against illegal drugs. If there is no drug abuse, we won’t be talking about drug operations.”

Densing added that in their separate presentation to the European Union (EU) in Brussels, some countries pledged to help in building half-way houses or temporary residence for rehab patients.