Malacañang shrugs off ‘guilty’ verdict of International People's Tribunal vs Duterte| UNTV NEWS

Malacañang shrugs off ‘guilty’ verdict of International People’s Tribunal vs Duterte

by UNTV News | Posted on Thursday, September 20th, 2018

The panel of the International People’s Tribunal | Image grabbed from the Facebook page of International Peoples’ Tribunal PH

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang shrugged off the guilty verdict handed to President Rodrigo Duterte by the International People’s Tribunal (IPT) on charges of human rights violations.

According to presidential spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque, the said tribunal which recently convened in Brussels, Belgium, is propaganda body comprised of left-leaning groups.

“That’s a sham decision. It has no official sanction. The validity of the findings will depend on the credibility of the tribunals. They appear to be a propaganda body of the international left, and therefore we set it aside as a useless piece of propaganda against the government,” said Roque.

IPT 2018 convened this week to hear cases filed against Duterte on his alleged violations against political, civil, economic, social rights, international humanitarian law and others.

The IPT findings will reportedly be submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), European Parliament and International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague.

“We heard the summary of testimonies of witnesses — many of them heart-wrenching, traumatic and horrific- experts and resource persons as well as the digest of wealth of data, information, facts, and other evidence. It is our consensus therefore, the defendants Duterte, trump and all other defendants are guilty of all the charges specified in the indictment and therefore they are accountable for crimes against humanity,” said the jury.

The National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) said the International People’s Tribunal is initiated by the people to seek redress when traditional institutions are either limited or skewed.

NUPL President Edre Olalia also said in a statement that the IPT is a unique arena or platform for the urgent process of establishing the truth.

He also stood firm that IPT observes due process and defendants are notified and given the opportunity to participate and defend themselves.

Olalia added that IPT’s panel is composed of eminent jurors from different disciplines and the proceedings are conducted in an open and public trial. — Rosalie Coz

Tags: Human Rights, International People's Tribunal, Rodrigo Duterte

Duterte still trusts Diokno says Malacañang

by UNTV News | Posted on Wednesday, December 12th, 2018

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno

MANILA, Philippines — Unless there is evidence presented that supports the allegations being thrown against Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, he will continue to enjoy the confidence and trust of President Rodrigo Duterte.

This was the statement of Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo on the issues facing the embattled budget secretary, among which is the P51-B addition to the budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways and the alleged conflict of interest in the multi-billion-peso worth of infrastructure projects in Casiguran and Sorsogon.

“Mr. Diokno is known to be the ‘Mr. No,’ meaning, he’s a man of integrity. So, when he says he is not involved, I believe it, unless you show me, as a lawyer, competent evidence,” Panelo said.

He added that the accusers should bear the burden of proof.

Nevertheless, Malacañang will still look into the allegation of House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr., that 30 government infra projects worth billions of pesos went to a single contractor.

Andaya further alleged that some Cabinet members are benefactors of the said contractor.

“Since there is allegation of corruption, it follows that we have to investigate,” Panelo said. — Rosalie Coz | UNTV News & Rescue

Tags: Benjamin Diokno, Rodrigo Duterte

PH drug war meant to protect human rights of innocent citizens — Malacañang

by UNTV News | Posted on Monday, December 10th, 2018

(file photo)

In line with the 70th anniversary of the adoption of Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the Duterte administration reiterated anew that the government continues to honor human rights in the country.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea in a statement said the government remains relentless in its war against criminality, corruption, terrorism, rebellion and illegal drugs, in an effort to protect the human rights of law-abiding citizens.

He added that the Duterte administration is determined to improve the quality of life of Filipinos through the effective implementation of programs related to education, health management, food supply, housing, employment and other basic services. — UNTV News & Rescue

Tags: anti-drug war, Human Rights, Rodrigo Duterte

Duterte mulls over formation of own hit squad vs NPA rebels

by UNTV News | Posted on Wednesday, November 28th, 2018

President Duterte gestures during his speech at Camp Raja Sikatuna in Bohol

BOHOL, Philippines — In his speech last night at Camp Raja Sikatuna in Bohol,President Rodrigo Duterte said he is considering forming his own hit squad to combat the Special Partisan Unit (SPARU or sparrow) of the New People’s Army (NPA).

“Ngayon ang kulang talaga is ang ‘sparrow’ ko rin. Diyan lang man sila makalamang, sa bukid fight man yan. So mag-create ako ng sparrow — Duterte Death Squad against the SPARU,” he said.

The sparrow unit is known as the communist rebels’ hit squad during the regime of the late president Ferdinand Marcos in the 1980’s.

Last March, Duterte noted that there seems to be a resurgence of the NPA’s sparrow units.

“I will match their talent also for assassinating people. May armas yan sigurado…iyon ang balak ko,” Duterte said.

According to the President he will recruit former NPA members who have returned to the government fold to form his proposed hit squad.

The President’s statement comes amid continuing friction between the government and communist rebels, whose peace negotiations fell through in 2017 over continued attack on state troops.

Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman, Joma Sison slammed the President’s plan, calling it a “dangerous proposal” that will bestow power upon the military to liquidate civilians suspected of being NPA members.

Sison also clarified that the communist rebels’ sparrow units had long been defunct.

Meanwhile, the President is also planning to deploy a bigger military force in Jolo, Sulu to counter the forces of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group.

“Talagang isang division ilagay ko, not only a company, not only a battalion, not a regiment — but I’m going to place an entire division for the islands towards Sabah,” Duterte said.

The deployment of additional military forces in Jolo comes after the death of five soldiers and wounding of several others in a deadly encounter with the terrorist group. — Joan Nano | UNTV News & Rescue

Tags: NPA, Rodrigo Duterte, sparrow units, SPARU