MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has asked the United Nations to delist over 600 cases of enforced and involuntary disappearances mainly attributed to government forces between 1975 and 2012. Senior government officials led by Undersecretary Severo Catura of the Presidential Human Rights Committee formally moved for the delisting of 625 cases during a meeting on Thursday with the UN Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances. During the dialogue, Catura reiterated Manila’s commitment to cooperate with the UN human rights mechanisms. He also affirmed the policy of the Duterte administration to implement a human approach to development and governance, emphasizing that the Philippines had always welcomed dialogue on the issue of enforced or involuntary disappearances. “The Philippine delegation likewise assured the working group that the government would continue to assist families of the disappeared,” the DFA said.

Source: Philippine Star February 16, 2019 16:00 UTC