ASEAN parliamentarians urge Marcos to restore 'eroded' rule of law, democracy
The ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights urged President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on the day of his inauguration to respect human rights and restore the rule of law and democracy in the country after its "erosion" during the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.
"We hope to be proven wrong and that President Marcos Jr. will put an end to this climate of impunity and chart a different course of action that upholds human rights, press freedom,and the rule of law in the Philippines," Charles Santiago, member of Parliament from Malaysia and APHR chairperson, said in a statement.
"In a region beset with challenges and undergoing an authoritarian turn it is high time that the Philippines re-emerges as the leader on democracy and human rights that it once was,” he added.
The APHR earlier issued a statement expressing concern on the "victory of the son of a dictator and the daughter of a human rights abuser" saying this "do not bode well for the restoration of rule of law and human rights in the country.
The group said the Marcos family has never acknowledged the atrocities committed during the regime of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. who was ousted from his post through the People Power Revolution in 1986.
Meanwhile, the APHR also noted that the outgoing president has been accused of human rights violations since his time as mayor of Davao City as well as the killings under his "war on drugs" during his presidency.
The group mentioned the International Criminal Court's ongoing preliminary investigation against the outgoing chief executive for possible crimes against humanity brought about by his anti-drug campaign.
To show his commitment to human rights, the APHR said Marcos should appoint qualified, credible, and independent members of the Commission on Human Rights through a transparent and consultative process, and order the release of opposition Senator Leila de Lima.
The CHR is an independent office which is mandated under the 1987 Constitution to investigate all forms of human rights violations involving civil and political rights.
De Lima has been detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City since February 2017 over allegations that she allowed illegal drug trade to proliferate inside the New Bilibid Prison during her term as Justice secretary.
“We believe that democratic institutions in the Philippines need to be strengthened and respect for human rights restored, and that should be the priority of the new administration. We will be closely monitoring the policies of President Marcos, and we are ready to work with civil society and human rights organizations in the Philippines to hold him and his government accountable,” said Santiago.
Marcos is set to take his oath as the 17th president of the Philippines at 12 noon Thursday at the National Museum in Manila.
According to its website, the APHR was founded in June 2013 with the objective of promoting democracy and human rights across Southeast Asia.
Its founding members include many of the region’s most progressive Members of Parliament (MPs), with a proven track record of human rights advocacy work. They include Eva Kusuma Sundari (Indonesia), Charles Chong (Singapore), Walden Bello (the Philippines), Son Chhay (Cambodia), Kraisak Choonhavan (Thailand), Lim Kit Siang (Malaysia), and Charles Santiago (Malaysia).
Bello ran against Duterte's daughter, Sara, during the 2022 vice presidential race but lost.—Hana Bordey/AOL, GMA News