MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines' election to the UN Human Rights Council is not an endorsement of the government's campaign on illegal drugs or its human rights records, Karapatan said Sunday. According to a UN explainer on the Human Rights Council, the UN General Assembly allows "extra blank slates" to enable a competitive voting process. Karapatan: Gov't spin does not erase thousands killedBut Karapatan secretary-general Cristina Palabay said Sunday that staying on the council "does not absolve the Duterte government of its rights violations against the Filipino people." The Philippine government has maintained that it upholds and protects human rights but has also claimed the the issue of human rights has been "weaponized" by members of the political opposition to discredit the government. Critics and human rights groups have higher estimates.

Source: Philippine Star October 14, 2018 05:26 UTC