Thrilla in Manila: Duterte vs UN and EU
Jemain Diaz de Rivera
Committee Member at BSP Technical Committee on Business Process Management
Thrilla in Manila: Duterte vs UN and EU
Filipinos and the world will line up to watch the next Thrilla in Manila, just as everyone watched Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in 1975 for the heavyweight championship of the world. This upcoming match will be worth watching if it ever happens.
President Duterte is planning to challenge the best lawyers of the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU) to probe the alleged spate of “extrajudicial killings” (EJKs) in a public forum with one condition, he be given the chance to counterpunch with questions addressed to UN and EU officials. The president definitely has a lot of chutzpah.
The President expressed confidence that he could counter the allegations hurled by foreign critics that he was behind the summary executions of drug suspects.
The EU recently called on the Philippine government to end the killings of drug criminals and launch an investigation. The EU parliament also criticized Mr. Duterte for urging lawmen and the public to kill drug suspects. The President countered by alluding to the European nations’ atrocities in the Middle East.
Earlier, President Duterte threatened to pull out from the UN, after it criticized his war on drugs as a crime under international law. The President hit back at the international bodies for trying to meddle with the country’s affairs.
An investigation into the alleged EJKs and summary executions reportedly committed in the country can only be done by a UN special rapporteur invited by the Philippine government.
It was the former Senate justice and human-rights committee chairman, Sen. Leila M. de Lima, who first sought the presence of a UN rapporteur as the Duterte administration intensifies its campaign against illegal drugs. Senate Majority Leader Vicente C. Sotto III and Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson rejected de Lima’s move for the UN to meddle in the country’s internal affairs following the death of more than 3,000 persons since the first of July. Data from the Philippine National Police show about 3,173 persons killed in the illegal-drugs war. Of this number, about 1,138 drug personalities were killed in police operations, while about 2,035 were reported victims of EJKs or vigilante killings. The average number of persons killed daily for the past two-and-a-half months is 42.3.
EJK was a topic also discussed by the secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Ramon M. Lopez, during the recent membership meeting of the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (Ibpap) held in Makati Shangri-La hotel.
Lopez said: “I don’t consider that there is EJK in the country.” Policemen have rules of engagement, and have a right to protect themselves when enforcing the law. Drug lords are killing each other (vigilante). He highlighted that the country is at war and the opponent is drug addition, having 700,000 pushers and heavy users. The secretary asked the leaders of the Information Technology and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) industry for support, saying, “What must be done is not to interfere, but to support and cooperate with government. The law will have to be followed, and those who break the law will have to be arrested or neutralized.” Lopez added the streets are safer now, and there is more peace and order.
Lopez wandered into the EJK topic, after mentioning that he was confident the IT-BPM industry will reach its year-end targets of employing 1.3 million Filipinos and bringing in revenues of $25 billion. He noted that the Philippines remains a favorite investment site with a 1.9-percent inflation (I believe it is actually 1.8 percent) and a stable foreign exchange rate. The secretary also noted how the industry and the government can continue to work together as the country moves from providing low-end processes to high-end services.
Partnerships may include training for work, creating an ecosystem that will further foster growth, incentive schemes by the DTI, Board of Investments and Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza). The DTI will continue to proactively attract local and foreign investments; synchronize and modernize incentive schemes; and unify a scheme that is performance-based and time-bound.
The panel discussion was moderated by Celeste Ilagan and Martin Crisostomo. Discussion points included the DTI’s strategic direction in getting investments from outside the county; the availability of funds to promote the Philippines as an investment site for the IT-BPM; the status of fiscal incentives; and further improvement of much-needed infrastructure.
I have to note that Mary Harriet Abordo, Peza deputy director general who was part of the panel, said the registration agreements will be respected, and “ease of doing business” will remain a priority.
An updated “Thrilla in Manila” will, indeed, be an entertaining treat. If President Duterte wins just as Muhammad Ali, then we will have an opportunity to clap, beat our chest and keep our chin up. The government must sustain economic growth; provide career opportunities for Filipinos; and improve quality of life in its territory, Thrilla or no Thrilla in Manila.