Families of victims in the “war on drugs” in the Philippines continue to face threats, harassment, and reprisals, Protestant churches in the Philippines told the ongoing United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva, Switzerland today.
Reacting to the report of UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions Morris Tidball-Binz on the right to security, truth, justice and reparations of families of victims of extrajudicial killings, National Council of Churches of the Philippines deputy general secretary Mervin Toquero said they welcome calls for the protection of victims’ families against reprisals.
Co-head of the Philippine UPR (Universal Periodic Review) Watch delegation to the UNHRC’s 59th regular session, Toquero said in his oral intervention that organizations like Rise Up, composed of families of victims, have courageously led efforts to seek accountability, especially from former President Rodrigo Duterte.
“We…welcome, Mr Special Rapporteur, your calls for the protection of victims’ families against reprisals, their rights to form associations and to guarantees of non-repetition, among others,” Toquero said.
The families of victims have been met with online attacks—false images, fabricated narratives, misogynistic hate speech, and rampant disinformation—designed to discredit and intimidate, however, Toquero revealed.
“These attacks intensified after the International Criminal Court’s arrest of Mr. Duterte,” he said.
Toquero said they agree with Tidball-Binz that the right to personal security obliges States to exercise due diligence in protecting victims’ families from threats to their safety.
“This includes shielding them from reprisals such as violence, arbitrary arrest, or online intimidation,” the church leader said.
“We therefore appeal to this Council to call on all Governments, including of the Philippines, to ensure the protection and support of families seeking redress, uphold their right to justice and accountability,” he said.
Philippine UPR Watch said it requests the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. government to issue an invitation to Tidball-Binz to visit the Philippines for an in-country investigation on extrajudicial killings. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)