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Rights group hits Palace for personal attacks on UN experts

MANILA, Philippines — Human rights group Karapatan, on Sunday, slammed Malacañang for resorting to personal attacks against United Nations experts who have warned against the impact of militarization on indigenous peoples.

In a statement, Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay branded as "infuriating" the Palace's latest tirade against two Filipino UN special rapporteurs, whom presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said were attempting to "embarrass" the Duterte administration . 

"It is infuriating that instead of taking note of and acting on the reported violations, the Duterte government resorts to ad hominem attacks to deflect accountability, in addition to its adamant refusal to be subjected to independent investigations," Karapatan said.

In a statement dated December 27, UN special rapporteurs Victoria Tauli-Corpuz and Cecilia Jimenez-Damary said the ongoing militarization in Mindanao has "massive and potentially irreversible" effect on the rights of some Lumads or indigenous peoples.

READ: Palace smears Filipino UN experts for 'embarrassing' Duterte admin

But Roque, on December 29, told the UN experts to be prudent in issuing statements to not embarrass the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

In a statement dated December 27, UN special rapporteurs Victoria Tauli-Corpuz and Cecilia Jimenez-Damary said the ongoing militarization in Mindanao has “massive and potentially irreversible” impact on human rights of some lumads. AP, file © Philstar.com In a statement dated December 27, UN special rapporteurs Victoria Tauli-Corpuz and Cecilia Jimenez-Damary said the ongoing militarization in Mindanao has “massive and potentially irreversible” impact on human rights of some lumads. AP, file

Karapatan earlier sent a letter to Corpuz asking the international group to probe the killings of Lumad in Mindanao, which has been under martial law since May.

The group asked the UN to "urge the Philippine government to stop its military operations in civilian communities, including the indigenous people of Mindanao. It said that the "military's unwelcome presence" is a factor in the "abuses" against Lumads.

READ: Karapatan asks UN to probe Lumad killings in Mindanao

Roque, a human rights advocate before joining government, warned the two international experts: "[I] appeal to these two Filipinos who albeit are special rapporteurs... not to use their post for the purpose of embarrassing the Duterte administration."

Karapatan said that since the declaration of martial law in Mindanao on May 23, it has recorded at least 29 victims of extrajudicial killings in Mindanao. "Many of the victims were members of local peasant and indigenous organizations targeted for their local campaigns for genuine agrarian reform and against militarization," Karapatan added.

The group said there have been 15 cases of torture, 23 victims of frustrated extrajudicial killings, 58 victims of illegal arrest and detention and 335,686 victims of indiscriminate gunfire.

There were also 401,730 individuals who were forced out of their homes due to militarization, with 16,612 of those mostly in the CARAGA, Southern Mindanao, and SOCKSARGEN regions.

"We call on the international community to continue and intensify support for the Filipino people's campaigns against the Duterte regime's fascist attacks, with the expected increase of human rights violations due to martial law, counterinsurgency program and the drug war," Karapatan also said.

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