Yasay: UN special rapporteur should apologize

MANILA, Philippines — Demanding an apology from United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial killings Agnes Callamard is necessary, the Philippines' top diplomat said.

Foreign Affairs Sec. Perfecto Yasay Jr. said that Callamard had jumped into conclusions about the cases of extrajudicial killings in the country.

"She has damaged the country tremendously by her statement. People had jumped into conclusions that EJKs have been perpetrated in the Philippines and that there is rampant violation, state-sponsored violation of human rights," Yasay said in Cambodia.

Yasay added that Callamard's statement has been one of the basis of the United States on refocusing its assistance to the Philippines.

The US government shifted its assistance away from law enforcement since the start of President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs. It also recently deferred a significant grant to the Philippines after citing concerns over rule of law and human rights.

READ: US moves aid away from Duterte's drug war | US defers grant to Philippines over rule of law issues

"The damage that she has wrought on basis of irresponsibility is so great it demands no less than an apology," Yasay said.

Callamard also broke UN protocol for issuing arbitrary findings which were not verified, according to Yasay.

"She simply decided to come over here on the basis of the invitation of the president subject to conditions if she is not amenable to this condition then she goes back to the protocol that is available under the UN," the Foreign Affairs chief said.

Yasay said that Duterte's invitation for Callamard to visit the country and investigate was separate from the existing protocols of the UN for fact-finding missions.

The invitation was made on the condition that she make her findings and declarations under oath, Yasay added.

"It is so hypocritical for her to say now that she’d like to come to the Philippines and investigate and preserve the confidentiality when she arrived at conclusions... based simply on media reports that were not verified," Yasay said.

Meanwhile, Sen. Leila de Lima said that Callamard's visit to the country, which is UN-sanctioned, is governed by the Terms of Reference for Fact-Finding Missions and Human Rights Special Procedures.

READ: Rapporteur visit to Philippines based on UN terms

Such inquiries into drug-related killings are for monitoring and reporting purposes only, the senator said.

"It is imperative that Dr. Callamard and her delegation be allowed to discharge their duties effectively and unhampered to show to the world that we are still a nation that observes the rule of law, honors the dignity of life, respects the basic human rights, and remains committed to the democratic values of transparency and accountability," De Lima said in a statement.

De Lima added that the UN special rapporteur's scheduled visit has become urgent due to doubts on the conduct of the president's war on drugs.

"The President would often repeat that we should have no fear if we do nothing wrong. The same can be said to him. If indeed his so-called “war on drugs” is pursued within the bounds of the law and  international standards, then his administration should have nothing to be afraid of," De Lima said.