‘No culture of impunity:

The Philippines assured on Friday 29 Sept 2017 that  no culture of ingustice in the Philippines. This was in response to a statement expressing concern over killings in the country during its war against grugs. The Philippines government was asked by Iceland and other 39 countries to allow the United Nations reporter ti visit Philippines and to investigate such deaths.

The Philippine Mission to the UN in Geneva expreesed disatisfaction about the reports by icelands in behaif of other countries, as this wil spoil the Philippines image golbally. The Philippine Deputy Representative to the UN, criticized those countries that signed the statement.

Countries signed:

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands and Ukraine , were the countries that signed.

Philippines Response:

In response to the statement, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella, touting the country’s “accomplishments” at the recent United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in Geneva, said that “some parties” appear to “refuse to understand certain aspects of our human rights efforts.” He added that while Philippines welcomes the help of its allies in wiping out narcotics and criminality, we reject any “dictation” on how it runs its internal affairs.