Ambassador Garcia Asserts PH as a Country of Rule of Law to All UN Member and Observer States in Relation to PH Anti-Illegal Drugs Campaign

Ambassador Evan P. Garcia (center) briefs officials from Permanent Missions in Geneva on the Philippines’ campaign against illegal drugs on separate occasions, which were held from April 20 and 21at the Palais des Nations. The briefing was well received by the Permanent Missions to the UN in Geneva as it provided them a better and holistic appreciation on the Philippines’ campaign against illegal drugs and the country’s human rights efforts. With the Ambassador on the podium are Deputy Permanent Representative Maria Teresa T. Almojuela (left) and Minister and Consul General Enrico T. Fos (right).

25 April 2017 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) and Other International Organizations, Ambassador Evan P. Garcia, asserts the Philippines is a country of rule of law with a vibrant democracy and actively pursues international cooperation in a briefing held for representatives of the Permanent Missions in Geneva of all UN member and observer states on the anti-illegal campaign of the Philippines.

“The Philippines is a good international citizen. We have been and continue to be an active and dynamic partner of the UN in promoting human rights, in particular on issues on women and children’s rights, rights of indigenous peoples, rights of migrant workers and their families, economic, social and cultural rights, civil and political rights,” he remarked.

The briefing highlighted the Philippine Government’s achievements towards promoting and fulfilling the country’s commitment to human rights.  It also stressed the human rights initiatives of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration in the past nine months.  Ambassador Garcia also discussed the holistic approach of government in its campaign against illegal drugs.

Ambassador Garcia emphasized that President Rodrigo R. Duterte was elected into office by a large number of Filipino people on a platform of urgently addressing criminality, corruption, and peace and order.

He also pointed out that extrajudicial killing has never been a policy of any President in the Philippines, including President Duterte. He stressed that the campaign against illegal drugs is based on rule of law and peace and order with a holistic institutionalized approach employing a five-pillar of action to address the drug menace, namely: drug supply reduction; drug demand reduction; alternative development; civic awareness and response; and regional and international cooperation.”

The ambassador stated that the Duterte administration has vowed to employ a human approach to development and governance as it works to improve the Filipino people’s welfare as the “underlying reason why the Government is waging a war on illegal drugs with firm adherence to established human rights principles and the rule of law.”

It was underscored that the social menace on illegal drug problem prevents ordinary Filipinos, mainly the youth, from developing their full potentials and realizing the country’s socio-economic progress. “We are trying to save the 30 million boys and girls who are under 14 years of age. They comprise almost 1/3 of the Philippine population. They are the country’s future,” Ambassador Garcia stressed.

Two briefings were held for the five UN regional groupings, namely, the Western European and Others Groups together with the JUSCANZ group on April 20, and the African states, the Asia-Pacific states, Eastern European states, Latin American and Caribbean states on April 21.

For more information, visit www.genevapm.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/genevapcg. END