MANILA, Philippines— The Department of Foreign Affairs rejected a call by United Nations special rapporteurs for an independent probe into alleged human rights violations in the Philippines. In a statement, the DFA said the call was "made in bad faith" and warned a probe may "undermine domestic processes." At least 39 rights advocates were killed in the Philippines in 2018, Dublin-based Front Line Defenders, which focuses on human rights workers at risk, said in a global situationer in January. Outrageous interference, Palace saysEarlier, Malacañang also slammed the call for independent probe into the human rights situation in the country saying it is an “outrageous interference” into the Philippine policies. Panelo also called the international human rights experts “propagandists.”“Lest these foreign propagandists, masquerading as human right protectors, forget, allegations are not proof.

Source: Philippine Star June 09, 2019 05:03 UTC