UN Rights chief raises concern over PH’s anti-drug war casualties
The United Nations Commission on Human Rights has expressed concern over the rising number of deaths related to the Philippine government’s war on drugs.
“My office is following the situation of human rights in the Philippines very closely. The extraordinarily high number of deaths–and persistent reports of extrajudicial killings–in the context of campaigns against drug use continue,” GMA News quoted UN Rights Council chief Michelle Bachelet as saying during the Council’s 41st session in Geneva.
“Even the officially confirmed the number of 5,425 deaths would be a matter of most serious concern for any country,” she added.
The Human Rights Watch or HRW, however, has a higher number of recorded cases with about 27,000 people killed as of March 2019 while the Philippine National Police has recorded 6,600 as of the end of May 2019.
As part of efforts to combat the proliferation of illegal drugs, Bachelet transparency on information and investigations on supposed human rights violations to dispel false allegations and help regain trust.
She also took note of the threats against human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers, and Catholic priests undermined the rule of law and the right to freedom of expression.
