Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has declared before the United Nations Human Rights Council that the Philippine criminal justice system is working, citing the speedy investigation and filing of cases against the respondents in the October 3 killing of veteran radio commentator Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa as proof.
In his opening statement during the UNHRC’s Universal Periodic Review of the Philippines in Geneva, Switzerland, Remulla hyped the filing of the case against suspended Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag and other respondents.
“In the recent case of journalist Percy Lapid, we were able to take resolute and pro-active action, upon the express directive of the President himself,” Remulla told members of the UN human rights body.
“In 17 days, we completed the investigation, case build-up, and filing of charges against a high-ranking government official, the first in decades,” he said.
Remulla, who is leading the Philippine delegation to the gathering, also said the investigation on the killing of Mabasa also led to the “uncovering of a deeply-rooted criminal enterprise inside the corrections system.”
Earlier, Remulla said the murder of Mabasa and that of inmate Cristito Palana Villamor alias Jun Villamor, the alleged middleman in the case, and the subsequent confiscated of a huge stash of contraband items, including over 7, 500 cans of beer inside the New Bilibid Prison, showed the presence of a criminal organization within the BuCor itself.
The promotion and protection of human rights in the country is making significant progress during the first months of the Marcos administration, Malacanang meanwhile said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has lauded the Phili pine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for doing a good job in the Percy Lapid case, noting that it was practically solved in 17 days, with a high-government official being touted as the possible mastermind.
Some member countries of the United Nations Human Rights Council meanwhile, were apparently not convinced by Remulla’s assertion that the country’s human rights situation has drastically improved and urged the Philippine government to take further action to protect and promote human rights, address killings related to the anti-drug war crackdown and ensure that victims get justice.
Among the UNHRC member-states that made the recommendation Monday to Remulla during the Universal Periodic Review which assessed the human rights condition in a given country include Australia, Germany, Canada, Brazil and Croatia.
Austria, Cyprus, Costa Rica Ireland and France urged the Philippines to rejoin the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The Duterte administration withdrew from the ICC in 2018 after a push by the international community to investigate the alleged abuses and extrajudicial killings related to the crackdown on illegal drugs.
“We regret that since the last Universal Periodic Review, the Philippines has withdrawn from the ICC. We remind the Philippines of its obligation to cooperate with the prosecutor’s ongoing investigation into alleged international crimes commission and ensure access to justice to victims,” Ireland’s representative told the council.
Australia also recommended that Manila strengthen mechanisms to deter violence targeting human rights activists, while Canada pushed for the decriminalization of libel.
Canada said Manila must ensure effective prosecution of those behind summary killings related to the war on drugs.
France on the other hand told the Philippine delegation of the need for the Marcos administration to take concrete measures to combat impunity, especially those involved in extrajudicial killings.
Belgium meanwhile recommended that Manila take swift action on the killing of journalists in the country.
However, China noted the Philippines’ achievement in protecting human rights, adding that the latter should continue pushing ahead in developing its economy “to provide a solid foundation for its people to enjoy all human rights.”
In his statement to the council, Remulla said Manila has so far accepted and implemented 103 of the 257 recommendations of the previous UPR review.
The current review on the Philippines human rights records were the fourth such review since 2017.
With only about five months in office of the Marcos administration, most of the fourth UPR will thus delve into the conduct of the then Duterte administration.
Remulla assured the UNHRC member-states that the country provided and will always provide an “enabling space” for the civil society and human rights defenders.
He also told the council that the Marcos administration had refocused the controversial war on drugs towards rehabilitation and poverty alleviation instead of the use of force.
Remulla also said a total of 302 more cases have been referred by the review panel to the National Bureau of Investigation for case build-ups.
Remulla also told the council of the government’s effort to decongest the prison system saying that 728 prisoners were released in September and October alone.
Remulla previously said the New Bilibid Prison and six other BuCor prison facilities have a 330 percent congestion rate.
The NBP had over 28, 000 inmates, including more than 17, 000 in its maximum security compound.
The national penitentiary was originally meant to house at most 6, 000 inmates when it was constructed in 1940.
