PH assures UNSR Khan of conducive environment for free expression

MANILA – The Philippine government has assured United Nations Special Rapporteur Irene Khan of its commitment to fostering an environment conducive to free expression, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) said Thursday.

"The government remains steadfast in its efforts to foster an environment where anyone can freely express their opinion without fear," PTFoMS executive director Undersecretary Paul Gutierrez said, as quoted by his office in a news release on Thursday.

Gutierrez made the assurance during the welcome dinner for Khan hosted by the PTFOMS, in collaboration with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), the Publishers Association of the Philippines (PAPI), and National Security Adviser Secretary Eduardo Año at Barbara’s Restaurant in Intramuros, Manila on Tuesday night.

During the event, Gutierrez relayed to Khan the current administration’s strong resolve to protect and promote the Filipinos' right to freedom of expression.

The PTFoMs said the welcome dinner for Khan was attended by various government offices, agencies, and representatives of free media, including PAPI, Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC), and National Press Club (NPC).

“UNSR Khan’s remarks focused on the complexity of freedom of opinion and expression, the importance of diverse information sources, and the value of multiple perspectives. She expressed her gratitude for the warm welcome and recalled her previous visit to the Philippines in 1981 with the UN Office of the High Commissioner on Refugees,” it said.

“Khan commended the Philippines for its early adoption of the UN 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 protocol. She also discussed the role of freedom of opinion and expression in bridging the ideological divide between the USA and USSR during the Cold War which resulted in both opposing parties promoting civil and political rights as well as economic, social and cultural rights,” the PTFoMS added.

Officials from various agencies, including the Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Presidential Human Rights Committee (PHRC), and the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), also issued their respective statements during the event.

The PTFoMS said DOJ Undersecretary Margarita Gutierrez discussed the government's role in upholding justice and freedom of opinion, while PHRC Director Tito Fajardo presented the country's human rights achievements and reports.

It added that DFA Assistant Secretary Maria Teresa Almojuela reaffirmed the country’s commitment to working with the UN on freedom of expression issues while NTF-ELCAC Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. emphasized the need to focus on socio-economic development in areas affected by insurgency.

“The event also provided an opportunity for human rights defenders from multiple Civil Society Organizations, such as the Hands Off Our Children Movement, Inc. (HOOC) to interact with UNSR Khan. HOOC represents mothers of children allegedly taken by the New People's Army through their front organizations,” the PTFoMs said.

Khan visited the country to meet with various government agencies to assess the country's human rights mechanisms.

Prior to the welcome dinner, she met with officials from the National Privacy Commission (NPC), discussing the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and its role in safeguarding personal information while supporting freedom of opinion and expression.

On Wednesday, she also met with officials of the Supreme Court and the Department of Justice.

Khan is expected to provide recommendations to the UN on enhancing the country's human rights mechanisms after her 10-day visit. (PNA)