• 7 months ago
Panayam kay DOJ Usec. Raul Vasquez kaugnay sa pagbuo ng special committee on human rights ni PBBM
Transcript
00:00 We will discuss the creation of a Special Committee on Human Rights of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
00:06 with the Department of Justice Undersecretary Raul Vazquez.
00:09 Usec Vazquez, good afternoon.
00:12 Good afternoon, Dale, and good afternoon, March.
00:17 Good afternoon to all the viewers and listeners.
00:21 Usec, first of all, can we explain
00:25 what is the objective and purpose of this Special Committee for Human Rights
00:31 that President Marcos Jr. created?
00:33 The main mandate of the Special Committee on Human Rights Coordination
00:42 is to have a focused, dedicated, and rationalized
00:48 human rights promotion and protection of our government.
00:53 If you remember, Dale and March, in the past,
00:57 the programs and projects of various agencies of our government were one and the same.
01:03 It was very confusing.
01:06 That's why in the past three years,
01:11 the United Nations issued a resolution
01:15 that led to a program,
01:19 the so-called United Nations Joint Program,
01:22 where the United Nations and the government of the Philippines
01:28 worked together to create a platform
01:33 to have a focused, dedicated, and effective human rights promotion area
01:43 where you could discuss all the policymaking on law enforcement
01:48 as well as accountability and participation of our civic society organizations
01:56 for the civic space.
01:58 Usec Vasquez, can you share with us
02:03 how broad the accomplishments of the Philippine partnership
02:07 with the United Nations Joint Program on Human Rights for the country?
02:12 Thank you for the question, Usec March.
02:16 But let's think that all the projects
02:21 that were supported and maintained by the United Nations Joint Program
02:27 are the old programs and projects of our government.
02:32 But it's not coordinated, it's not rational.
02:37 The implementation is like a bomb.
02:41 That's why what happened when the United Nations Joint Program came,
02:47 and we have to give credit to the United Nations on that,
02:50 it provided a platform whereby the policymaking on human rights promotion and protection
02:58 as well as the discussion on the different programs and plans
03:02 were discussed and they saw how to implement this.
03:08 So there are six areas of concerns or discussion
03:15 that became the objectives of the United Nations Joint Program.
03:20 I will just read it.
03:21 First, investigation and accountability.
03:24 Second, data gathering on alleged human rights violations by law enforcement agencies.
03:30 Third, expanding civic space and engagement with private sector.
03:35 Fourth, national mechanisms for implementation, reporting, and follow-up.
03:41 Fifth, human rights-based approach towards drugs control.
03:45 And lastly, sixth, human rights-based approach towards counterterrorism.
03:52 This UNJP will end on July 31.
03:58 Our government, in our desire to gain ownership and control,
04:05 to have a full management of our destiny and our efforts towards human rights promotion and protection,
04:17 we, our own agency, will continue to expand all the objectives and mandates of the United Nations Joint Program
04:30 that will end on July 31, 2024.
04:34 Usec, what will be the mechanism and difference of this special committee
04:42 with the existing Commission on Human Rights?
04:44 Okay, thank you, Dale.
04:47 The Commission on Human Rights or CHR is a constitutional body.
04:53 It is an independent body that oversees and monitors our human rights promotion and protection.
05:00 It is not under the control of the Special Committee on Human Rights Coordination.
05:06 Instead, they will look at all the projects and plans and policies that our Office of the President will do
05:20 through the Special Committee on Human Rights Coordination,
05:28 according to our international treaties and conventions, where the Philippines is a member.
05:36 Another aspect of this special committee is that it is lodged under the Office of the President.
05:45 That means to say that it is close with the presidential authority to gather, require, and seek the support
05:53 and cooperation of all government agencies in this effort under the concept of holistic
06:00 and whole government approach of our present administration of our beloved President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr.
06:08 Usec Vasquez, this is a good initiative.
06:11 But what do you think are the programs and regulations that we should look at when discussing human rights in the country?
06:22 Actually, there are many.
06:25 Because our system now is that our government will make their mandate,
06:34 their obligation and responsibility to all of our citizens under the prism of human rights.
06:42 This means that all of our projects and plans, law enforcement for instance,
06:50 and accountability, will be done by all of our agencies under the human rights promotion and protection obligations of our government.
07:05 For instance, one of the good aspects of this is the war on drugs.
07:12 The war on drugs now, there has been a major change in the approach of government in respect to the drugs issue.
07:23 What do I mean by that?
07:25 What I mean is, it has been seen and it has been handled as a purely law enforcement issue, the drugs problem.
07:36 Now, under our government, the drugs issue is being looked at and all solutions are being done under a two-pronged approach.
07:52 First, it is a health issue where the main mandate is rehabilitation if the involved are drug users and low-level peddlers, street crimes only.
08:09 But if we are talking about drug importation, drug manufacturing, drug distribution and then the transshipment of drugs,
08:22 that is being pursued by our law enforcement agencies.
08:26 So that is the good aspect of this. That's why all of our agencies under the DC20 of the Department of Justice,
08:36 where we are ordering our prosecutors to help our law enforcement agencies so that all of their cases will be supported by evidence,
08:50 by witnesses, by real evidence, so that there will be a big chance of convicting, of judging the real perpetrators of our cases, the lawbreakers.
09:08 But on the other hand, this DC20 is also to ensure that no one shall be unjustly charged or unjustly incarcerated.
09:19 We don't want the Department of Justice, you know that it is a sec-march, the miscarriage of justice.
09:26 That's why all of the aspects of the five pillars of the criminal justice system, all of those reforms are being done through the Justice Sector Coordinating Council,
09:39 which is headed by the Supreme Court and we are also a part of the Department of Interior and Local Government.
09:46 That's why we can see that cooperation and focused dedication is the main focus of all of the projects and work of our government at the moment.
10:03 Usec Vasquez, I will follow up on the question earlier. We clarified the coverage of this committee.
10:13 Are the issues and concerns moving forward or all pending issues are covered?
10:21 Thank you for the clarification. One of the mandates of our special committee is to have a human rights-based approach to the drugs problem, particularly,
10:43 if that's what you're talking about, the Asset Bill. The pending cases, the DOJ Review Panel is looking into them to see if there's evidence
10:58 and to know the correct or true numbers. There are many numbers that are being counted,
11:05 how many extrajudicial killings were there in the past. Some say 30,000, some say 10,000, some say 6,000.
11:14 But you will be surprised, when we had the opportunity to arrest all the law enforcement agencies, the number of PNP, PDEA and National Prosecution Service is different.
11:33 That's why we are thinking to review all of these things and see what the true numbers are.
11:44 If there's evidence and if there's a violation, is that an EJKing or is that a legitimate violation in the performance of their by duty constituted authorities in their sworn duties to uphold the law.
12:05 Many are saying that there were deaths, extrajudicial killings, but that's not the case. In fact, in the present administration,
12:16 they are saying and this was discussed when the Special Rapporteur came regarding freedom of expression.
12:28 They are saying that there were four extrajudicial killings in respect to journalists. It turns out that all four of them were resolved.
12:42 The three cases that were in the court, they found that it's not related to the performance of their profession.
12:52 The other one is under preliminary investigation. In the drug problem, we are pursuing all the cases and all the crimes against the law,
13:10 because the intention of our government is to make sure that justice is served. All of these, when we and Secretary Boyeng Remulia were in Geneva,
13:24 we challenged the civil society organization that if possible, they should come forward with the evidence, name and details of the extrajudicial killings.
13:38 Our government, through the Department of Justice, is ready and willing to help provide protection to the WPP,
13:48 the Wisdom Protection Program, to pursue the crimes if possible.
13:54 That is a challenge that was openly made to the world community during the session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva last year.
14:05 Usec, we have a question from our media partner, Louisa Erispe of PTV.
14:11 Will the Special Committee investigate the cases of EJK during the last administration?
14:18 Will the Philippines establish a parallel investigation in the ICC's investigation?
14:25 No. Although, it is included in her mandate to review all pending cases on drugs.
14:36 Remember, one of her mandates is to approach the drugs problem under human rights prism.
14:43 She will also look into the aspect of torture and other human rights violations.
14:56 So her objective is for future application to make sure of our compliance with human rights, law enforcement, criminal justice and all the police of our government.
15:15 The past cases, the law enforcement is mandated to investigate under this time the Department of Justice Review Panel.
15:29 The Review Panel is looking into the cases, witnesses, and if there is sufficient evidence to continue the case and to close the dark period of our past.
15:53 Usec Vasquez, when it comes to the implementation of the laws, how will this committee look into the implementation of the current laws and policies on human rights?
16:07 Thank you for the question Usec Marge.
16:12 This is a coordinating body. This special committee will support, guide and assist all agencies so they can have a proper understanding of our human rights obligations
16:36 for data gathering and data sharing, and for the investigation and accountability to be done under our human rights obligations under all treaties and conventions.
16:54 Importantly, unlike the UNJPB4, the agencies included in this committee are limited, either members or observers.
17:05 The aim of this special committee, and we were given the authority by our beloved President through Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, is to gather and get as members or observers
17:22 of any government agency so that all five pillars of the criminal justice system are represented in this.
17:32 So prosecution, law enforcement, judiciary, corrections and community.
17:41 You will see there, there is DIRG, DOH, PNP, NPI, all stakeholders.
17:50 It would be a whole government approach. It will discuss the priorities and the program because our government wants us to gain ownership and control of the programs on human rights promotion and protection.
18:08 We should be able to get rid of the big case of guidance of the United Nations because this past year, three years of the UNJPB,
18:20 the UNJPB continued to give a lot of programs. The UNJPB provided a platform and I have to admit that it is a very good take away from that program.
18:33 It provided a vehicle, a platform whereby human rights promotion and protection are discussed openly and actively by all stakeholders and the monitoring of the implementation.
18:49 And finally, the monitoring would require the application of accountability mechanisms if there would be violations by any stakeholder.
18:59 Yuseg, how will the committee face the issues related to red tagging, terrorist labeling and misusing of civilians, which are just a few of the concerns of some human rights activist groups?
19:15 You know Secretary Del, this committee does not look at the issue of color, creed or belief, or ideology.
19:29 All of these issues, we will call all civil society organizations, no matter their ideology, no matter their beliefs or priorities.
19:44 Because you know, the Philippines is a robust and active democracy. There are thousands, thousands of media practitioners,
19:54 hundreds and perhaps thousands of radio and TV and if you count the social media enthusiasts, hundreds of thousands, anybody.
20:09 So the civic space is so wide, so liberal and so free in the Philippines.
20:17 So there's no problem if they will enter, it would be good to have a discussion.
20:23 But the problem is, they don't want to have a say in us here in the Philippines.
20:30 They want to go to all places to spread their complaints.
20:39 Why don't they try us? Why don't they try now? That's the challenge really to our friends from the civil society organizations that are critical to us.
20:50 Why won't you just cooperate with us? Because the present administration is dead serious in performing its duties and obligations.
21:00 There are sworn duties and obligations to our fellowmen under the prism of human rights.
21:07 Under the prism of human rights, we should always remember that.
21:11 As a Department of Justice, our mantra is real justice in real time. Try us. Try us.
21:18 Thank you very much for your time, Department of Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez.
21:25 Thank you Dale and thank you Marge. Good morning to all the viewers and listeners. Bye bye. Good afternoon.

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