Former Human Rights Commissioner Etta Rosales
MANILA, Philippines — Former Human Rights Commissioner Etta Rosales expressed concern over the recent resolution issued by the European Parliament which “encourages the EU and its member states to consider calling for the Republic of the Philippines to be removed from the United Nations Human Rights Council before its current membership term expires at the end of 2018.”
Should that happen, Rosales said the Philippines would be labeled as among the violators of human rights in the world. It would also bring negative impacts to over 10 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
“That’s an international slap on the face of the Philippines before the international community. Para tayong sinampal at inilagay sa isang lugar na in-isolate tayo (It’s like we were slapped and placed in isolation)… magkakaroon ng stigma sa mga Filipino (it will create stigma among Filipinos),” Rosales said.
She also cited President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to deport Giacomo Filibeck, the Deputy Director General of the Party European Socialists, as the reason that sparked the Philippines’ conflict with EU lawmakers.
For its part, Malacañang remains unfazed by the issue. According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, it is impossible for the UNHRC to “kick out” the Philippines because there was not any proof that the alleged extrajudicial killings in the country were state-sanctioned.
Roque added that “it is always their prerogative to review it” referring to the EU.
“But the Philippine government’s position on extrajudicial killing has been made clear over and over again by the president himself,” Roque concluded. — Grace Casin | UNTV News & Rescue
The post PHL’s possible ‘kick out’ from UNHRC alarms advocates appeared first on UNTV News.