United Nations Special Rapporteur Irene Khan arrived at the Police Regional Office 7 (PRO 7) headquarter in Gorordo Avenue, Cebu City at around 9 a.m. on January 29, 2024 for a closed door meeting with PRO 7, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security, and representatives of the media industry in Cebu.
Khan denied any media interview. Based on protocol, consolidation of reports will take up the whole week which will be divuldged to the media on Friday, February 2, 2024 at the nation’s capital.
Lawyer Hue Jyro Go, chief of staff of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security, said that the purpose of the meeting is to assess freedom of opinion and expression particularly here in Cebu Province.
“She was delighted that the Philippine National Police po natin dito adhere to international human rights standards,” Atty. Go said.
Police Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, PRO 7 spokesperson, said that adherence to human rights here is accorded not just to the media but to the entire community.
In the PNP organization, he said, women take up crucial roles in sensitive positions.
“Adherence to human rights. Of course, media security was tackled. We have assured them, and everyone can attest, that we have good working relationship with media in PRO 7, and we always promote transparency in operation,” Pelare further said.
However, Go said that the war on drugs campaign of the past administration was not tackled in the discussion.
Khan arrived in the Philippines on January 22, 2024 but her official assignment started on January 23, 2024 and will wrap up on February 2, 2024.
Khan had been to Manila, Baguio, Tacloban City prior to arriving in Cebu.