Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 12) — The human rights situation in the Philippines has hardly changed as police and government agents continue to use unlawful force, according to the latest report of Human Rights Watch (HRW).
Citing Dahas, a program run by the University of the Philippines, HRW said at least 90 people have already been killed in “drug-related violence” since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office.
‘
“If the Marcos government is actually serious about addressing human rights concerns, then there needs to be accountability for all of these extrajudicial killings that have occurred in the Philippines,” said HRW Asia director Elaine Pearson.
‘
HRW Asia Division Phil Robertson added that the war on drugs is still in operation in the country, and the new administration is not “really doing anything” to stop the killings.
‘
“We insist that there have to be real changes on the ground,” Robertsson said. “There has to be accountability.”
‘
“There have to be investigations and prosecutions, not the sort of talking about investigation but a real investigation where accountability is guaranteed,” he added.
‘
The report also stressed how government and military officials accused civic groups of being supporters of communists.
‘
It also noted the attacks against journalists, including the death of veteran radio broadcaster Percy Lapid.
‘
Robertson also described the call for PNP officials to resign as a “recipe for nothing.”
‘
