Statement of Erin Tanada, Partido Liberal vice president on external affairs on alleged link between drug lords and human rights groups

The plot gets crazier by the day.

The statement of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque that drug lords are using human rights group to criticize and undermine the government is absurd and baseless.

At the same time, it is patently dangerous because it makes human rights groups possible targets of the anti-drug operations of law enforcers.

We also see the statement as an attempt to taint and damage the efforts of human rights groups, who have been courageous and untiring in monitoring the implementation of the government’s anti-drug efforts and the abuses that go with them. They help provide sanctuary and voice to the voiceless victims of this invented war.

We call on the administration to retract its statement if it can’t provide evidence to back up its claims.

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Pagulo nang pagulo ang kwento.

Ang pahayag nina Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano at Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque na ang mga human rights group ay ginagamit ng mga drug lord para batikusin at siraan ang pamahalaan ay pawang kalokohan at walang basehan.

Samantala, lubha itong mapanganib dahil magbibigay daan ito para maging posibleng target ang mga human rights group sa mga anti-drug operation ng mga alagad ng batas.

Nakikita rin namin ang pahayag na ito bilang pagtatangka upang dungisan at siraan ang mga ginagawa ng mga human rights group, na matapang at walang kapagurang sinusubaybayan ang pagpapatupad ng mga polisiya kontra droga ng pamahalaan at sa mga pang-aabuso na kasama nito. Tumutulong sila para magbigay ng kanlungan at boses sa mga biktima nitong huwad na gyera.

Nananawagan kami sa administrasyon na bawiin ang pahayag na ito kung hindi makakapagbigay ng katibayan para patunayan ang mga kwentong ito.