EU airs concern over drug killings

MANILA, Philippines - The Europen Union (EU) has expressed concern over the spate of killings in the Duterte administration’s campaign against illegal drugs, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza said yesterday.

In a press conference at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Dureza said when he met with EU officials in Brussels, Belgium last Aug. 25, “they asked about the issue on drug campaign in the country.”

“They told me that many people are being killed… So many of our agreements with the EU have something to do with human rights issues, like the free tariff privilege with the EU. It is important that we clarified it to them,” Dureza said.

“They know exactly what is happening here. They have their own people here, they have their embassies here also… We have to make it clear that we share values on the protection of human rights and due process,” he said.

He noted that President Duterte, as a prosecutor and lawyer, “adheres to the shared values on the protection of human rights and due process.”

“I told them that the President even created internally specific groups to look into those issues, the so-called excesses of our police authorities and then also look into the issues of many of those possible killings because they are amazed. Aside from the fact that there are killings, there are many who voluntarily surrender,” he added.

Dureza said that he also told EU officials that Duterte has his way and he has to fulfill his campaign promise to stop the drug trade.

Dureza’s trip to Brussels also involved the planned trip to the Philippines of Princess Astrid, sister of Prince Philip of Belgium.

“I flew from Oslo, Norway to Brussels, the capital of the European Union, because the Belgian government was very interested to know about the peace process and because of the planned visit of Princess Astrid, sister of Prince Philip of Belgium, who is scheduled to come here in May 2017 to head a high level economic team for investments,” he said.

Dureza also briefed the Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium about the developments in the peace process.

“They (EU officials) are the biggest supporters in the Bangsamoro negotiations. They help in terms of funds and grants. So we thought that it is also an occasion for us to express the President’s appreciation for their very strong support,” Dureza said.