MANILA, Philippines — Sixty-two human rights and civil society organizations called on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to create an independent international investigation mechanism into alleged extrajudicial killings (EJKs) and other “serious” human rights violations in the Philippines under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.
In a joint letter dated August 27, the groups expressed “continued grave concern over ongoing extrajudicial executions and other serious human rights violations in the context of the ‘war on drugs’ in the Philippines.”
The groups noted that these violations “continue to be fueled by incitement to violence and discrimination by the highest levels of government with near-total impunity.”
“We urge your delegation to ensure that the United Nations Human Rights Council responds robustly to the recent report on the situation in the Philippines by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights when it convenes for its upcoming 45th session,” the groups told the UN council.
“Specifically, we urge you to actively work towards the adoption of a resolution establishing an independent international investigative mechanism on extrajudicial executions and other human rights violations committed in the Philippines since 2016, with a view to contributing to accountability,” they added.
The groups likewise remarked that the human rights situation in the country “has undergone a dramatic decline” since Duterte became president in 2016.
In its report released in June, the UNHRC noted a “near impunity” in the Philippines government’s handling of drug war killings.
The report cited 8,663 deaths since the anti-drug campaign was launched, but noted that estimates put the real death toll at three times higher.
In their letter to the council, the groups also mentioned the recent deaths of activist Zara Alvarez and peasant leader Randall Echanis as they called out attacks against rights defenders.
They noted that attacks against human rights defenders and critics of the Philippine government, including activists, journalists, church leaders, trade union leaders, indigenous and peasant leaders, and individuals who are members of groups affiliated with the political left, are “frequent and persistent.”
In a speech delivered via video to the 44th meeting of the UNHRC in June, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the Department of Justice has created an inter-agency panel to evaluate over 5,000 drug-related police operations that led to deaths.
However, the groups said the Philippine government has failed to ensure that this panel will be independent and impartial.
“Accordingly, it is our organizations’ assessment that this panel is the latest attempt by the Duterte administration to evade international scrutiny for violations rather than a sincere attempt to put an end to these human rights violations and foster national accountability,” they added.
The groups also stressed that a more robust response from the UNHRC is needed to deter further killings and other human rights violations and ensure accountability.
“In the absence of further Council action, the Philippine government will likely be emboldened to continue and escalate its violent anti-drug campaign and other serious rights violations, including reprisals against human rights defenders and civil society organizations, while the pervasive fear among victims and their families will only increase,” they said.
“Given the failure of the Philippine authorities to stop or effectively investigate crimes under international law and punish those responsibly, we urge your delegation to work towards the adoption of a resolution to ensure that the Philippines remains on the agenda of the HRC and to create an independent, impartial, and effective investigation into extrajudicial executions in the context of the ‘war on drugs’ and other human rights violations committed since 2016,” they added.
The groups also told the UNHRC that launching an investigation is the “only credible next step that the HRC can take to address the ongoing human rights crisis in the Philippines.”