Duterte admin urged to drop petition for terror tag on UN rapporteur, others

MANILA, Philippines — The United Nations Environment Programme called on the government to drop the accusations of terrorism levelled against a UN rapporteur and hundreds of individuals including activists and human rights defenders.

In a statement, UN Environment expressed its deep concern that Philippine authorities responded to the expressions of environmental and human rights defenders “by criminalizing and delegitimizing their voices.”

“These charges must be dropped immediately and [provide] support for the legitimate activities of these individuals who have UN mandates and the civil organizations with which they work,” it said.

Local rights group Karapatan said there are 46 human rights defenders on the list. Among them are UN special rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples Victoria Tauli-Corpuz and Indigenous Peoples Major Group for Sustainable Development focal person Joan Carling.

READ: Int'l group condemns Philippine bid to label rights defenders as terrorists

“The shrinking space available to independent people to carry out legitimate work and to speak on behalf of many voiceless indigenous and local communities globally is an issue that must be addressed through openness and participation,” UN Environment said.

Last month, Department of Justice sought to declare the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army, as terror bodies under the Human Security Act of 2007. This came months after Duterte signed a proclamation tagging CPP and NPA as terrorist groups.

Under the law, the Anti-Terrorism Council can order the arrest of suspected terrorists even without a warrant.

READ: Terrorist petition a ‘virtual hit list’ — Human Rights Watch