UN Rapporteur’s visit to PH has nothing to do with ICC probe—Palace official

United Nations Special Rapporteur (UNSR) Irene Khan’s 10-day visit to the Philippines will focus on learning about the Marcos administration’s efforts in upholding freedom of opinion and expression, and is not connected to the International Criminal Court (ICC) drug war investigation, a Palace official said.

This was clarified by Undersecretary Paul Gutierrez, executive director of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFOMS).

Khan is the UN’s special rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression.

“Well, unang-una ang pagbisitang ito ay linawin lang din natin ano, ito po ay walang kinalaman sa sinasabing ginagawang imbestigasyon po ng International Criminal Court ‘no (Well, first of all this visit, we have to clarify, has nothing to do with the investigation of the International Criminal Court),” Gutierrez said in a television interview on Tuesday, Jan. 16.

“At ito pong pagbisita ni Miss Irene Khan ay gagawin po nating pagkakataon upang i-highlight po ang katotohanan na ang Pilipinas po ay isang bansang matibay sa pagtutuguyod po ng mga karapatang pantao lalo na po sa ating pamamahayag (And this visit of Miss Irene Khan will be an opportunity for us to highlight the reality that the Philippines is a country that strongly upholds human rights, especially in journalism),” Gutierrez added.

The Palace official cited that one of Khan’s agenda is to meet with several government officials and personalities during her visit in the country. She is expected to meet officials of the Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Supreme Court (SC), Nationals Security Cluster, and leaders in the Congress.

She will also meet former Senator Leila de Lima, whom she had requested to meet prior to de Lima’s temporary release.

Gutierrez stressed that the UN official’s visit should not be viewed as controversial, and the country should not be alarmed over the visit as it will be the third time a UN Special Rapporteur steps foot into the country under the new administration alone.

Khan, an internationally recognized advocate for human rights, gender equality, and social justice, assumed office on Aug. 1, 2020. She became the first woman to hold the position since the establishment of the mandate in 1993. — Betheena Unite

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