The Department of Justice has partnered with the United Nations Human Rights Council for the Philippines to hold a three-day human rights summit to strengthen measures against extra-judicial killings and other human rights abuses in the country.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the three-day summit will be held at the Philippine International Convention Center on December 7, 9 and 10. There would be no summit on Dec. 8 since it is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and a non-working holiday.
Guevarra said that the summit would be in compliance with the October 7 UNHRC resolution, which called for technical assistance and capacity-building to support the Philippines’ efforts to strengthen its human rights and accountability measures.
“This Human Rights Summit is one of several component projects proposed by the DOJ as part of the joint program on technical cooperation between the UN and the Philippine government, pursuant to the latest resolution of the UN Human Rights Council adopted last June,” Guevarra said in a text message.
Guevarra, who chairs the Administrative Order 35 Task Force, or the Inter-Agency Committee on Extra-Legal Killings, Enforced Disappearances, Torture and Grave Violations to the Rights to Life, Liberty and Security of Persons, said the summit would also be intended to strengthen the Task Force.
According to the Justice Secretary, the summit was necessary because the DOJ’s guiding principle is “to uphold at all times the rule of law, including the protection of human rights, especially those of the vulnerable and marginalized sectors of society.”
One of the issues with reported human rights concerns that would be taken during the summit is the Anti-Terrorism Act.
“Important human rights issues will be discussed during the summit, including human rights guarantees under the Anti-Terrorism Act. Well-known personalities in the area of human rights promotion and protection have been invited to speak during the forum,” the DOJ chief pointed out.
The ATA is one of the most legally challenged laws enacted by Congress and approved by President Duterte due to apprehension that it would lead to human rights violations and would falsely accuse individuals and organizations to be terrorists or affiliated with terrorists.
In fact, there were 37 petitions filed with the Supreme Court by various individuals and organizations who are seeking for the nullification of the ATA. The oral arguments had been scheduled on January 19.
The summit would be also held amid heated discussions on red-tagging and reports of violations against human rights advocates such as the arrest of Amanda Echanis, the alleged killing of her father National Democratic Front consultant Randall Echanis, and the death of Jevilyn Cullamat during an alleged encounter between the New People’s Army and the military.
Guevarra clarified that there was no certainty that these matters would be taken up during the summit since the event was planned a few months ago. However, it is possible that it would be part of the discussion by some the participants.
“This project was conceived months ago. it is possible, though, that any of the participants may take up more recent specific incidents as part of the discussions,” Guevarra stressed.
Last June, the DOJ Chief told the UNHRC during tis 44th Human Rights Council Session that they have created an inter-agency panel that is reviewing 5,655 anti-illegal drugs police operations that resulted in deaths.
The DOJ is expected to release its initial report on its review on these police operations within this month.