THERE is no way to translate the decision by the majority of the members of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) not to condemn the Philippines’ human rights record but to instead provide “technical assistance and capacity-building” to the Duterte administration other than as a stinging “slap” in the face of the rabid anti-PH and anti-Duterte partisans here and abroad.
According to the report by the Phil. Daily Inquirer last Wednesday, October 7, 2020, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michele Bachelet, was also instructed to “provide support for the country in its continued fulfillment of its international human rights obligations and commitments.”
The resolution, Resolution No. 45, the PDI report added, was sponsored by Iceland, the Philippines, “and six other nations.”
For the record, the 45TH session of the UNHRC was held from September 14 to October 2, 2020.
Just about two months ago, the CPP’s “legal democratic forces” (read: the Makabayan Bloc in Congress) and its fellow anti-democratic travelers, the Liberal Party and their minions, are jumping up like monkeys who had stumbled on a pile of bananas after the office of Bachelet came out with a report condemning the country’s human rights record with a recommendation to proceed with an “investigation” by the world body of the Philippine government.
Back then, the government, Pres. Duterte especially, are being pilloried and lambasted from “pillar to post,” so to speak, because of the ugly image Bachelet and her gangmates at the UN had managed to paint about our country.
This change of view and position by the majority of the UN members should be first credited to Pres. Duterte’s independent foreign policy, insofar as yours truly is concerned.
Why? Because this has gained the respect and admiration of other countries who are beginning to be convinced that we are, finally, gaining maturity and sense as an independent nation instead of always being seen as a stooge of US Imperialism.
For why would other countries accord respect to another country that has been infamous to dancing to any tune that Uncle Sam plays?
Credit should also go the members of our country’s diplomatic corps headed by foreign affairs secretary, Teddy Boy Locsin and of course, to the other agencies of the government who have now come to realize that if the narrative about the Philippines abroad is to change, it would take the concerted effort and cooperation of the entire bureaucracy. Hindi na puwede ‘yung ‘bahala na kayo d’yan.’
Too, credit should also be given to the ‘Silent Majority’ in our civil society groups who have now taken an active role in presenting the other side of the “truth” about the country’s human rights situation previously dominated by CPP-front organizations, such as Karapatan.
Browsing from the UNHRC website pertaining to the Philippines, the one “complainant” whose name is repeated over and over again is Karapatan, thus giving us a hint as to how far gone it has dominated the narrative abroad about the country’s human rights situation
The statement of Cristina Palabay, Karapatan top cadre, err, chairperson, criticizing the turnaround of the UNHRC is of course understandable.
You see folks, when the UN speaks of “technical assistance” and “capacity-building” assistance, this translate to M-O-N-E-Y.
And since what the majority of the UNHRC wants is for this money to be extended to the government, it is expected that nothing would be coming Karapatan’s way.
‘Yun ang “masaklap,” hehehe!