After her planned visit was canceled, did Callamard fail to do her job as claimed by Roque?

MANILA, Philippines — Did United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial killings Agnes Callamard failed to do her mandate as claimed by Malacañang after her planned visit to the Philippines to probe President Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly war on drugs was canceled?

In his latest salvo, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque sought to discredit Callamard, saying the UN expert does not qualify to be a rapporteur on summary killings because her supposed expertise was freedom of expression.

Roque also said Callamard’s inability to come to the Philippines and investigate the alleged extralegal killings under Duterte’s war on drugs was a proof that she failed her job as a UN special rapporteur.

READ: Roque: Callamard is no expert in extrajudicial killings

Roque’s remarks against Callamard came after the UN expert defended her two Filipina colleagues, whom Roque smeared for their supposed “very partisan” joint statement warning the Philippines of “massive” impact of militarization on the rights of Lumads in Mindanao.

In 2016, the Palace sent an invitation to Callamard officially inviting her to conduct an inquiry into allegations of human rights violations against the Duterte administration.

The Palace also called on the UN to look into the killings of policemen during anti-drug operations or by drug syndicates and other criminal gangs.

Citing the Philippines’ right to “know the motive of the investigation,” the Palace likewise echoed Duterte’s demand for a public debate with Callamard before allowing her to proceed with her probe, and that she be placed under oath before answering questions from the government.

To note, the firebrand leader earlier expressed willingness to be investigated by Western probers, but warned they would end up humiliated and outsmarted.

In response to Manila’s invitation, Callamard refused to heed Duterte’s conditions, saying they violate UN protocols for country visits.

Callamard, who reports to the UN human rights council, landed in Duterte's crosshairs for condemning the spate of killings under his drug war.

Last November, Duterte threatened to slap Callamard should she try to investigate him.