Ermita admits lapses in reporting on UN Convention Against Torture

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine government yesterday admitted that there were lapses in its reportorial obligations as a signatory to the United Nations Convention Against Torture, but vowed to address all of the concerns raised about specific cases in the country.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the government has explained its side to the UN through ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Switzerland Erlinda Basilio. In a statement delivered by Basilio, the Philippine government expressed its “sincere regret over our inability to submit periodic reports during a long 20-year period.”

“We do not wish to make excuses but nevertheless, we would like to note that during the period in question, there were serious challenges, international and national, natural and man-made, that required our focused attention,” a part of the statement read.

She assured the UN that the Philippines remains committed to comply with the procedural and substantive requirements of the country’s treaty obligations, not only to the Convention Against Torture but also nine other core human rights conventions of which the Philippines is a state party.

A number of concerns were raised by the UN Committee Against Torture in relation to the Philippines, which Ermita said were mostly raised by non-government organizations (NGO) directly to the body. Ermita noted that the committee cited 1,016 torture cases, none of which were presented to the government for verification.

“I said why is it that that data was brought out right there in Geneva when we could have easily verified it here,” he said.

The executive secretary said the government was not aware of the details of the cases so it was difficult for them to respond right away to the charges. However, the Philippine government was given a chance to present its response to the charges.

According to Ermita, the chairman of the committee assured the Philippine government that they are not going to take the NGO reports as “gospel truth.” “We got a comment from the chair that we are not necessarily going by the figures given to us,” he said.

Ermita called on the NGOs and civil society groups to formally present their cases of alleged torture before the Philippine government, specifically through the Presidential Human Rights Committee, so that these can be properly acted upon. –Marvin Sy, Philippine Star