New York: Stressing that the killing of “about three” people, which the President of the Philippines admitted to personally committing, while serving as the Mayor of the city of Davao clearly constituted murder, the United Nations human rights chief called on the judicial authorities in the country to uphold the rule of law and investigate the self-professed crimes.
“The killings committed by [President Duterte of the Philippines], by his own admission, at a time when he was a mayor, clearly constitute murder,” said the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein.
- Sponsored -
“It should be unthinkable for any functioning judicial system not to launch investigative and judicial proceedings when someone has openly admitted being a killer,” he added.
According to the UN human rights arm, Duterte told business leaders last week that he had patrolled the streets personally on his motorcycle and killed people. On Friday, in an interview with the BBC, he confirmed that he had personally killed “about three” people during his term as the mayor of Davao.
“The killings described by President Duterte also violate international law, including the right to life, freedom from violence and force, due process and fair trial, equal protection before the law, and innocence until proven guilty,” underscored High Commissioner Zeid, adding that if Duterte, as a government official, encouraged others to follow his example, he may also have committed incitement to violence.
Photo: Danilo Pinzon/World Bank
Just Earth News
Comments are closed.