‘Drug war to boost Philippines international standing’

MANILA, Philippines -While the Commission on Human Rights expects the recent drug killings to affect the country’s trade privileges with the European Union (EU), Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez on the contrary sees the government’s war on drugs resulting in a more positive international standing for the Philippines.

“What we have here is less criminals out on the street. You feel safer? I think we all feel safer, less drug dealers and pushers. Definitely less criminals, so that to me is a plus,” Lopez said.

“Bottom line is, are the people safer now? Will parents be worried about their children getting into drugs now as more than before? To me as a parent, I’m happier now with my kids safer. I think that’s what the Duterte administration has really done. Imagine all these years, there are already three million of them in our midst,” he added.

The CHR earlier warned the government about its war on drugs and the alleged cases of extrajudicial killings, saying that these may put into danger the country’s privileges under the EU-Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+).

The Philippines was granted beneficiary country status under the EU-GSP+ in December 2014, allowing the country to export 6,274 eligible products duty-free to the EU market.

Prior to attaining the EU-GSP+ status, the Philippines was covered by the regular EU-GSP which provides zero duty to only 2,442 products and reduced tariffs for 3,767 products.

The country’s beneficiary status under the GSP+, however, necessitates the implementation of the 27 international treaties and conventions on human rights, labor rights, environment and governance.

The European Commission in January this year said the Philippines is making good progress on implementing the 27 international conventions after it adopted its first GSP monitoring report to the European Parliament and assessed the Philippines’ implementation of the conventions.

“I’m not saying that (I am not worried with the upcoming review) because you know that’s beyond me, their evaluation. What I’m just saying is that they look at it pragmatically if it’s (the campaign against drugs) working. Then if it’s yes, is there peace and order, less criminality and less drugs? That’s the bottom line. The danger of prevalence of illegal drugs in the system, that to me is more worrying,” Lopez said.