United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Killings Agnes Callamard
MANILA, Philippines —The government will not bar the entry to the Philippines of Agnes Callamard, the United Nations special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings or summary execution.
This is if she will tour the country as a tourist according to Malacañang.
“Pero welcome po siya dahil (She is welcome because) after all, we welcome all tourists. Kaya lang ang masama doon, huwag niyang palalabasin na nag-iimbestiga siya kasi ang pagpasok sa Pilipinas, hindi naman po iyan katumbas ng pag-iimbestiga (But she should not claim that she’s investigating because an entry to the Philippines does not mean she’s allowed to conduct an investigation),” the Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.
However, the official also quipped some innuendos against the said UN rapporteur and even invited her to take a swim in Pasig River.
“So kung siya po ay papasok sabihin niya, magkaroon siya ng obserbasyon bilang turista. So kapag pumasok po siya ay aanyayahan po namin siyang lumangoy sa malamig na tubig ng Pasig River,” said the presidential spokesperson.
(So if she wants to enter the Philippines, she may do so as a tourist. When she visits we will invite her to swim in Pasig River.)
Roque has previously said that the Duterte administration is open to conduct an investigation into the government’s anti-drug war except for Callamard because of her bias.
The palace will also prohibit coordination between the investigator and the police and military personnel as directed by President Duterte.
Roque, meanwhile, will recommend a rapporteur to the president who will be allowed to investigate the administration’s war on drugs.
“Bakit ka nga naman makikipagtulungan sa isang rapporteur na mayroon na siyang konklusyon at ang kinakailangan na lang niya ay ilang bagay para masuportahan iyong kaniyang konklusyon? Makikipagtulungan lang po tayo doon sa mga tao na wala pang konklusyon at mayroon pong katapatan na talagang mag-iimbestiga bago magkaroon ng konklusyon,” said the official.
(Why would you work with a rapporteur who had already drawn her own conclusion and only needs a few details to support said conclusion? We will only work with people who have not drawn their own conclusions and can be trusted to conduct an investigation before reaching a conclusion.) — Rosalie Coz | UNTV News and Rescue
