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TASK FORCE AGAINST POLITICAL VIOLENCE
DOJ UNDERSECRETARY REFUTES ASSERTION THAT 17 COUNTRIES
CRITICIZED THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT REPORT DURING THE
UNHRC CONFERENCE IN GENEVA
Contrary to some misrepresentations that many countries
were critical of the Philippine report to the UNHRC, a
video recording of the conference would show that in
fact, the Philippines was the most applauded and
commended during the conference, Task Force 211, Task
Force Against Political Violence Chairman Undersecretary
Ricardo Blancaflor of the Department of Justice (DOJ)
said. Blancaflor further quoted the US head of
delegation as saying, “the US congratulates Sec Ermita
for the engagement in this process and for introducing
best practices”.
Other countries like Switzerland stated, “Switzerland
views positively the measures adopted by the Philippine
authorities in the abolition of extra judicial
executions and welcomes the cooperation it has developed
in this regard”. Blancaflor also quoted Japan as saying,
“We highly regard the efforts made by the Government of
the Philippines for promoting fundamental human rights.
We appreciate the sincere efforts made and the various
measures taken by the Government of the Philippines so
far such as the establishment of the Human Rights Office
in the AFP, the establishment of a special task force to
handle relevant cases, and the strengthening of the
witness protection program”.
Blancaflor explained before the United Nations the
recent resolutions of the Supreme Court. The Writ of
Amparo was explained as the extraordinary remedy that is
available to any person whose right to life, liberty and
security is violated or threatened with violation of an
unlawful act or mission or a public official or a
private individual and entity. The Writ shall cover
extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances or
threats thereof. The twin of the resolution of the Writ
of Amparo is the writ of Habeas Data. The Writ of Habeas
Data is another extraordinary remedy available to any
person whose right to privacy and life, liberty or
security is violated or threatened by an unlawful act or
a mission of a public official or employee or private
individual or entity engaged in the gathering or
collecting, storing of data or information regarding the
person, family, home or correspondences of the aggrieved
party.
It would seem that those criticizing were not listening
during the entire conference. They should access the
website of the United Nations Human Rights Council to be
able to give more accurate statements to the public,
Blancaflor said. From the records, it is very clear that
thirty four (34) countries expressed congratulations to
the work the Philippines has been doing to eliminate
extra-judicial killings.
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