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Philippine National Statement
Opening Segment
60th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs
13-17 March 2017

Her Excellency Bente Angell-Hansen of Norway, Chair of the 60^th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs,

His Excellency Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,

Director General Margaret Chan of the World Health Organization,

Distinguished Heads of Delegations,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Philippines underscores the centrality of our three conventions in international drug control matters which should continue to serve as the principal frameworks in addressing the world drug problem.  We must not lost sight of the focus and objectives of these Conventions even as we strengthen them with the addition of new documents and initiatives.

Madam Chair,

The Philippines utilizes a comprehensive and balanced approach which aims to address all the facets of the drug problem based on a holistic five-pillar approach consisting of drug supply reduction, drug demand reduction, alternative development, civic awareness, and regional and international cooperation.  Our efforts are guided by the vision of a drug-resistant and eventually drug-free Philippines through comprehensive, balanced and holistic measures.

Our belief that an informed citizenry is an empowered one shapes our country’s drug demand reduction strategies through the formulation of educational programs and services suited to the different needs of the members of our communities.

The Philippines believes that the fight against drugs begins with preventing the youth who compromise majority of our population, from drug use and abuse through education and awareness-raising campaigns. 

To reach the youth, the flagship program of the Dangerous Drugs Board specifically focusing on young people (Peer-Based Strategy Against Drugs) is conducted for both students and out-of-school youth nationwide.  The program organizes youth groups and empowers them to be catalysts for change within their peer groups in advocating healthy and drug-free lifestyles.

Local action is essential in the campaign to address the drug menace.  Communities are at the center of all our anti-drug efforts.  Interventions must start at the grass roots level, empowering citizens and the local government units by providing them a sense of ownership and responsibility. 

In response to the recent unprecedented number of drug dependents who have voluntarily surrendered, the Dangerous Drugs Board has developed Guidelines on Community-Based Basic Interventions for implementation through local health centers, in collaboration with the Department of Health and Department of Interior and Local Government.  We have also reached out to the private sector and our international partners in the construction of additional in-patient rehabilitation facilities all over the country to serve the people’s needs.

Through sustainable treatment and rehabilitation programs, we aim to assist drug dependents to live a drug-free life and to transform them into productive members of the community. 

Recognizing the important contribution of civil society as a partner in the fight against illicit drugs, our government agencies work with their representatives in the development and implementation of prevention, intervention and rehabilitation programs. 

Madam Chair,

Drug supply reduction strategies aim to take away illicit drugs used for the purpose of abuse away from the reach of the public. 

The main choice of drug of abuse, methamphetamine hydrochloride locally known as “shabu”, enters the country through four major avenues: seaports, international airports, mail and parcel services, and the vast expanse of Philippine coastline.

Therefore, the Philippines supports all efforts to strengthen interdiction operations, including cooperation with foreign counterparts through the exchange of information and the provision of capacity building measures. 

The Philippines’ recent entry in the UNODC and World Customs Organization (WCO) Container Programme allows the country to benefit from the use of the WCO Cargo Targeting System to identify shipments likely to contain illicit goods.

In 2016, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency conducted 34,077 anti-drug operations, resulting in the seizure of 249 Million USD worth of dangerous drugs, controlled precursors and essential chemicals, the value of which in the last six months from June to December 2016 alone exceeded full year seizures for the last five years.  We aim to sustain this momentum. 

As the drug problem is without borders, affecting all countries, the Philippines underscores the importance of bilateral, regional and international cooperation through the exchange of information, enhanced collaboration and technical assistance trainings, among other numerous measures, particularly because of increased mobility and advances in technology.

In the Asia-Pacific, meetings of Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies for Asia and the Pacific and ASEAN ministerial meetings on drug matters are important avenues which allow us to share our experiences and to learn from other Member States. 

The Philippines as Chair of ASEAN in its milestone 50^th anniversary is happy to note that the 5^th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Drug Matters adopted the ASEAN Work Plan on Securing Communities Against Illicit Drugs 2016-2025. 

Madam Chair,

While the world drug problem is a common and shared responsibility, we underscore the sovereign right and duty of each State to determine the best approaches to address its drug problem, considering its historical, political, economic, social and cultural contexts and social norms.   Full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States as well as the principle of non-intervention in the internal affairs of States must be observed by all.

The pervasiveness of the drug problem cannot be denied.  Our supreme goal is to ensure that our people, especially the young, live in communities that are safe and free from the harmful effects of illegal drugs.

The government understands the importance of waging its campaign against drugs in a manner that does not undermine the legitimacy and integrity of the campaign itself.  As a matter of practice, all law enforcers are held to abide by established procedures.  Human rights enforcers ensure that operational protocols are aligned with the law and existing international practices. 

The Philippines’ efforts reflect our fierce commitment to the maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty and property and promotion of the general welfare and is guided by our State policy enshrined in the Constitution that protects the dignity of every human being and guarantees full respect for human rights. 

We are firm in our resolve to combat the scourge of drugs and in our duty to protect our citizens from drug abuse and its ill effects.  While we spare no effort in addressing the drug menace, we also stand firm in our adherence and strict observance of the rule of law and to the country’s obligations under existing human rights treaties.

Thank you. 

DFA STATEMENT ON EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION
ON THE CASE OF SENATOR LEILA M. DE LIMA
17 March 2017

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) expresses its concern with the European Parliament’s resolution on the case of Senator Leila De Lima as it casts aspersion on Philippine legal processes, its judicial system and the guarantees enshrined in the Constitution to uphold and protect the rights of all individuals. Philippine adherence to the rule of law remains as firm as ever, as is our commitment to the protection of human rights.

While we recognize the independent standing of the European Parliament within the EU system, resolutions that are crafted by its members of Parliament must necessarily possess unimpeachable standards, given the extremely sensitive topic of human rights. It is important that the elected members exert all efforts to secure more accurate information on resolutions, in order to avoid the impression of interfering in the internal affairs of sovereign non-EU countries.

The pillars of the criminal justice system remain to be effective and well- functioning in the Philippines, not only for Senator De Lima but for all.

The case is pending before the proper Philippine courts and the Philippine Government will allow the legal process to proceed accordingly. The Philippine Government asks the international community to refrain from influencing the outcome of a case that is rightly under the jurisdiction of Philippine local courts.

Allegations of state-sponsored extra-judicial killings are disturbing. The government is taking pains to investigate the veracity of these allegations of state-sponsored extra-judicial killings. This is being undertaken precisely to ensure that due process and the rule of law prevail even in situations of crises, such as the enormous drug problem that our society is facing. Public congressional hearings were convened to look into these allegations.

The Philippine Government stands ready and is firmly committed to strengthen existing mechanisms for dialogue and engagement on human rights and other issues with the EU and other international partners.

For instance, President Duterte recently ratified the Philippines-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) which will serve as a general framework for relations between the Philippines and the European Union. As such, it will allow the two sides to address challenges in a more coherent and sustainable manner through regular dialogue. While the PCA will still undergo the concurrence process in the Philippine Senate, we hope the EU side will also complete its ratification process for the agreement. END

DFA Statement on the UN-CND Side Event in Vienna on PH Anti-Illegal Drug Campaign

22 March 2017

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) remains committed to the Philippine government’s fight against criminality and illegal drugs in the country. With this end in view, the DFA supported the official participation of the Philippines in the 60^thSession of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (UN-CND) held on 13-17 March 2017 in Vienna, Austria led by high-level government officials from the Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), and the Philippine Permanent Mission to the UN in Vienna. 

Alongside the 60^thSession of the UN-CND, around 100 side events and numerous exhibitions were organized by non-government organizations (NGOs). On 16 March 2017, one such side event sponsored by an anti-drug network featured the video-taped remarks of Vice President Leni Robredo, who spoke on alleged drug-related extra-judicial killings in the country. This side event was not part of the official proceedings of the 60^thSession of the UN-CND and did not reflect the stand of participating governments. 

In the UN context, side events, or activities organized outside the formal program of official UN meetings, provide an opportunity for Member States, UN entities and NGOs to discuss themes in parallel to the official UN meetings or conferences where the NGOs are not involved. 

The Philippines respects fundamental freedoms, including the right of everyone to speak freely on any topic. However, freedom of expression is a right that comes with the responsibility to ensure that facts are verified, and unfounded allegations from questionable sources are avoided. In this regard, elements in the Vice President’s side event statement need to be verified, as already earlier stated by the Presidential Spokesperson on the matter.

The government is investigating the veracity of allegations of drug-related extra-judicial killings, which are being undertaken precisely in strict adherence to due process and the rule of law. This was conveyed by the Philippine Permanent Mission to the UN in Vienna in a statement delivered at that same side event after the Vice President’s remarks were shown. The statement emphasized that“the Philippine Government has pursued a balanced and holistic approach to the drug issue in all its facets --- prevention, education, enforcement, rehabilitation, and reintegration. The five pillars of supply reduction, demand reduction, alternative development, civic awareness and regional and international cooperation inform the Philippines’ mission against illicit drugs.”END