(Eagle News) — What better ways are there?
This was the reaction of the Philippine National Police to a statement from United Nations Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard that there were “better options” to addressing the illegal drug problem.
Callamard made the statement during a forum on drug policies at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City on Friday.
She clarified, however, that she was in the country only for “academic” purposes.
Last year, the government invited Callamard to the country so she could see for herself the illegal drugs situation here, on the condition also that she would engage in a public debate with President Rodrigo Duterte.
The invitation was made after she openly accused the Philippine government of human rights violations in connection with the drug war.
In October last year, Callamard turned down the invitation.
“What would she recommend on how to address the drug problem, with an estimate of 4M people hooked on illegal drugs? Then what (are) their better ways?” PNP spokesperson Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos said.
He said on the part of the PNP, it was “reach(ing) out to the drug offenders (users and pushers) and (offering) the avenue to change (through) Project Tokhang…”
He said this has resulted in 1,266,966 surrenderers.
“The (Philippine) government through its DOH (Department of Health) and DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) extend(s) all possible help to allow these drug addicts to be treated and rehabilitated, either by community-based wellness and rehab programs or treatment in drug rehab facilities. This is just in a span of 8 months,” Carlos said.
He said he hoped that Callamard “look(ed) at the (Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs) and the (National Anti-Drug Plan of Action), which will show what is the policy and direction of the government to address the drug problem.”
Palace reaction
In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said that if Callamard was “committed to ensuring due process to our government and (to) a truly objective assessment of (the Philippines’) record on an issue of tremendous importance to our nation, she should be in the Geneva meeting with our representatives.”
Abella was referring to the 16-man delegation sent to Geneva, Switzerland to, among others, defend the government from accusations of human rights violations before the international community.
The team–headed by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano and Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra—will attend the universal periodic review.
Representatives from the Presidential Human Rights Committee, the Deputy Speaker of the House, the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Justice, Health, Interior and Local Government, and Social Welfare and Development, among others, are also part of the delegation.
“Our position is very clear…,” he said.
