By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — Despite concerns aired by some quarters about the government’s crackdown on narcotics, a ranking official said on Thursday that the initiative’s acceptance among Filipinos is reflected by the high approval rating of President Rodrigo Duterte.
A recent Pulse Asia survey showed that 85 percent of Filipinos have expressed “approval” of President, 11 percent were “undecided,” and only 4 percent have expressed “disapproval.”
“The anti-drug campaign of the administration is basically a mechanism. Its purpose is to protect the lives, the properties, especially the children, especially the poor, where drug trade can easily penetrate,” Presidential Human Rights Committee Secretariat Undersecretary Severo Catura said during the #RealNumbers press briefing.
“It has been a challenge because there are always criticisms from various groups that have opposed the administration from day one, the same groups that have, as you can see, failed to challenge this administration during the last election given the fact that they’ve been purveying the same narrative. The approval of all these comes from the recent approval of the president,” he pointed out.
With regard to human rights concern in the country, Catura noted that the Philippines undergoes the Universal Periodic Review conducted by no less than the UN Human Rights Council.
Citing this, he reiterated that Manila rejects the Iceland-initiated resolution adopted by the rights body, which seeks a comprehensive written report on the human rights situation of the Philippines.
“The Philippines has always been open with regards its track record in so far as human rights matter is concerned,” he said.
“The reason why we do not wish to have a country-specific resolution is because it totally negates the effectiveness of other mechanisms in the UN,” he added.
Catura said if Manila agrees to the arrangement suggested in the UN text “given the very political environment (in the Philippines), everything will simply be politicized.”
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