By Paulo Loreto Lim

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. recently affirmed cooperation on behalf of the national government with regard to the possibility of a United Nations (UN) probe into allegations of human rights abuses in the country.

He explained, the initial pushback came amid allegations the rapporteur being deployed by the UN was biased.

“Bakit ka nga naman makikipagtulungan sa isang rapporteur na mayroon na siyang konklusyon (Why would you want to work with a rapporteur who has already drawn their own conclusions?)” he asked.

Roque said the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte would be willing to work with an impartial official.

“Makikipagtulungan lang po tayo doon sa mga taong wala pang konklusyon at mayroon pong katapatan na talagang mag-imbestiga (We will work with somebody without foregone conclusions and one who wants to really conduct an investigation),” he added.

The president recently assured to continue his fight against illegal drugs, calling on police officers across the country to proceed with their operations and ignore investigations conducted by the UN.

“Who are you to interfere in the way I would run my country?” he said while addressing members of law enforcement last week. “You know very well that we are being swallowed by drugs.”/PLL, WDJ