Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque belied the claims that the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte is neglecting the children who have lost their parents or guardians in the government’s crackdown against illegal drugs.
This statement was a response to a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report that revealed how the national government has failed to assist the children of those killed in the administration’s drug war.
“Hindi na kinakailangang tawaging pansin dahil binibigyan namin ng number one importansya ang ating kabataan,” Roque said, addressing the organization’s claims.
[There is no need to call our attention because we are giving number one importance to our youth.]
He refused to say anymore on the report, saying he has yet to see the report.
“Hindi ko po alam kung anong basehan ng report na ‘yan. Hindi ako makakomento kasi di ko pa nakita yung report na ‘yan.”
[I don’t know the basis of that report. I can’t comment on that because I haven’t seen the report yet.]
The 48-page report, “‘Our Happy Family Is Gone’: Impact of the ‘War on Drugs’ on Children in the Philippines”, claimed that many children have suffered “physical, emotional, and economic harm” over the death of their parents or guardians in the drug war.
“The Philippine government has failed to assist the children of those killed in its abusive ‘war on drugs.’ Beyond the illegality of the killings themselves, the government has violated the fundamental rights of the children of victims,” the report read.
The report presented information on 23 drug war deaths, gathered through HRW’s interviews with 49 people, including 10 children, 23 parents, relatives or guardians, and 16 individuals from government offices and non-governmental groups.
Aside from putting an end to the drug war, investigate the killings, and prosecute perpetrators, the HRW also recommended for the government to immediately and fairly compensate the families of victims of unlawful killings by government officials and their agents.
The HRW urged the national government to work with Commission on Human Rights in their investigations of such unlawful killings. They also recommended that the country fully cooperate with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
