The Duterte administration has legitimized violence against human rights defenders (HRDs) in the country, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said in a report released on Friday in one of its most scathing assessments of the President’s record concerning civil liberties. ADVERTISEMENTThe CHR also said there is a “systematic attack” on rights defenders across all sectors of civil society in the Philippines. Statements“Extreme supporters” of Mr. Duterte also contribute to the hostile environment in the country for human rights workers, since these supporters “demonize the concept of human rights and HRDs,” the commission said. According to the report, some of Mr. Duterte’s most damaging public statements against HRDs include the following:• He does not care about human rights. The report also noted how under the Duterte administration, the concept of human rights has been undermined, to make it appear that HRDs are protectors of criminals.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer July 10, 2020 20:48 UTC