“I do not dispute that the government has human rights obligations. All we’re saying is, do not disregard sovereignty even in the UN Human Rights Council,” said presidential spokesperson Harry Roque. Roque was responding to the criticism from UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zei Ra’ad Al Hussein over the President’s directive to the police to ignore rapporteurs. “I am concerned by deepening repression and increasing threats to individuals and groups with independent or dissenting views, including opposition senators … public officials, the Commission on Human Rights, human rights defenders and journalists,” Al Hussein said. In a press briefing, Roque said: “My reply to His Excellency, the Prince of Jordan is, it’s a two-way street.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer March 08, 2018 23:37 UTC