MANILA, Philippines — The Duterte administration should “seriously heed” the European Union (EU) parliament’s recommendation to conduct an independent investigation on the human rights situation in the Philippines, Bayan Muna said Saturday. In a statement, House Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Zarate said that the progressive party-list sees the recommendation as a “very positive and welcome move” from the EU. The Duterte administration should seriously heed the recommendation of the EU parliament, otherwise, it will only further its isolation internationally,” Zarate said. With EU’s resolution, Zarate said that Bayan Muna hopes that plans to further harass the media, the critics of the administration and the opposition be finally put to a stop. “We have long been calling for an independent international probe on the spate of killings in the country like that of Bayan Muna coordinator Jory Porquia, Randall Echanis and Zara Alvarez, as well as other human rights violations.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer September 19, 2020 07:30 UTC