MANILA, Philippines — Agnes Callamard, the United Nations special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, protested Malacanang’s statement accusing her of entering the country without formal communication with the Philippine government.
Callamard also questioned another statement by the Office of the President that she had thumbed down its invitation for her to visit the country. She explained that the invitation came with conditions that she thought were were not consistent with the code of conduct for special rapporteurs.
“I reject the statement issued today by the spokesperson’s office of President Rodrigo Duterte stating that the Philippine Government had not been informed in advance of my trip to the country,” she said in a May 5 statement released through the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner
According to the UN rapporteur, on 28 April 2017, the Philippine government was officially informed of her forthcoming visit to the country to take part in an academic conference on drug-related issues. The government was also informed that the trip was not an official visit, she said.
She said the government had replied with letters dated 29 April and 1 May, acknowledging reception of her letter and “reacting to the information about my upcoming academic trip.”
“Exchanges on this matter by phone, mail and email between my mandate and the Permanent Mission of the Philippines continued until 4 May,” she said.
“I also question the Philippine Government’s claim that I have not accepted the invitation to conduct an official visit to the country,” said Callamard.
“Last year, I rejected the conditions imposed by the Government on the visit, as they did not comply with the rules and methods of work of Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council,” she said said.
According to Malacanang, it sent a letter to Callamard on September 26 last year inviting her to visit the Philippines and meet government officials.
The invitation to Callamard, however, later came with conditions. Last December, the Philippine government said it would allow Callamard to visit the country and investigate alleged human rights abuses if (1) she would engage in a public debate with Duterte (2) Duterte would be allowed to ask Callamard questions and (3) the UN rapporteur take an oath.
In a statement Friday, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said Callamard’s arrival “circumvents all recognized United Nations protocols for such visits.”
“We are disappointed that, in not contacting our government in advance of this visit, she has sent a clear signal that she is not interested in getting an objective perspective on the issues that are the focus of her responsibility,” Abella said.
Callamard on the same day delivered the keynote address in a forum organized by the Free Legal Assistance Group dubbed “Drug Issues, Different Perspectives” at the University of the Philippines in Quezon City.
In her address on Friday, she stressed that she was speaking in her personal capacity.
“I am presently visiting the Philippines to participate in an academic conference on drug related issues. It is normal routine for Special Rapporteurs to visit countries to attend different conferences or events, but such activities are not official country visits,” she said.
“My current stay in the Philippines is not an official visit, so I will not be assessing the situation in the country, and there will be no report presented to the Human Rights Council,” she added.
Nevertheless, Callamard said she would continue to look forward to a “positive engagement” with the Philippine government on issues of interest to her mandate.
“I remain deeply committed to undertake an official visit to the country,” she said.
