Pubdate: Thu, 28 Jul 2016
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer (Philippines)
Copyright: 2016 Philippine Daily Inquirer
Contact:  http://www.inquirer.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1073
Authors: Leila Salaverria and Tarra Quismundo

KERRY CITES NEED FOR HR PROTECTION

UNITED States Secretary of State John Kerry mentioned the need to 
protect civil and human rights during talks on a wide range of issues 
yesterday with President Duterte and Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay.

In a press briefing, Palace spokesperson Ernesto Abella said Kerry 
brought up the matter then listened "very intently" to the 
President's explanation of his drive against criminality.

Before meeting with the President, Kerry held a joint press 
conference with Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay and spoke of the 
need to protect people's rights even as authorities seek to uphold 
peace and order.

"I made very clear that civil and human rights need to be protected 
even as we work to keep our society safe," Kerry said.

Kerry said he reminded the Duterte administration of the importance 
of respect for human rights, calling it a part of the "broader 
agenda" of his Manila visit where law enforcement and trade relations 
between the long-standing allies were tackled alongside the 
centerpiece issue of security and unresolved disputes in the South China Sea.

The Duterte administration's intensified war against crime and 
illegal drugs has led to the killing of hundreds of drug suspects, 
either through alleged shootouts with police or summary execution by 
motorcycle-riding masked men.

The President had vowed to be relentless in his campaign against 
illegal drug operations in the country and has warned human rights 
groups not to get in the way. The body count has risen to more than 
300 since Duterte took office on June 30.

In his first State of the Nation Address the other day, Mr. Duterte 
warned that human rights "cannot be used as a shield or an excuse to 
destroy the country."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom