Grace Poe/FACEBOOK PHOTO
A government or leaders who violate human rights have no right to lead the country, Senator Grace Poe said on Thursday.
Poe, who has been fighting for the rights of children in need of special protection, said the country needs leaders who do not only respect human rights but uphold them in the face of challenges as well.
She said a government that allows the rights of its constituents to be violated would not be able to lead the people.
“Lahat ng tao ay isinilang na may karapatan sa mundong ito, mahirap man o mayaman. Kaya dapat ay kasali ang lahat at walang maiiwan sa buhay. Kasama dito ang karapatang pumili ng kanyang lider,” said Poe, who is running for president in 2016.
(All people were born with rights in this world, whether they are rich or poor. That’s why everyone should be included and not left out in life. Included here is the right to choose a leader.)
“Ang gobyerno o ang mga tao na umaabuso sa mga karapatang pantao ay lumalabag sa International Human Rights at walang karapatang mamuno sa ating bansa,” she added.
(The government or people abusing human rights are violating the International Human Rights and have no right to lead our country.)
Poe made the remark as the world marks International Human Rights Day on December 10, when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was made and adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly 67 years ago in Paris.
The Philippines was among the UN members that drafted the Declaration, which is hailed as the most important piece of document to emerge from World War II.
Poe’s camp has often cited the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in defending her right to run for president despite being a foundling. The senator was abandoned at the Jaro church in Iloilo and later adopted by movie royalty Fernando Poe Jr. and Susan Roces.
“We all have the right to a nationality, the right to belong to a country,” Poe said. “I have always said that abandoned children are entitled to the same rights that all people enjoy. The circumstances of their birth do not make them lesser humans.”
The senator said the Philippine Supreme Court, in its various judgments, has recognized the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and considers these rights in force in the country.
This is why, she said, she was confident in taking her legal battle to the highest court of the land.
READ: Grace Poe: ‘I am a natural-born Filipino; I have nothing to hide’
At least four petitions seeking to disqualify Poe from the 2016 presidential race have been filed against her at the Commission on Elections. Another petition seeking to unseat her as a senator has already been decided in her favor by the Senate Electoral Tribunal. However, the petitioner has appealed the decision before the Supreme Court.
READ: David asks SC to reverse SET decision on Poe disqualification case
“We all have the same rights under the law. The law should be the same for everyone. We should be able to expect fair treatment from a fair court,” Poe said.
“At the end of the day, I trust that the Supreme Court recognizes the right of every Filipino to choose his leader,” the senator added. RAM
READ: Grace Poe confident SC will uphold SET