As President Duterte trying to talk about "Human Rights"
(while defending his Anti-Terror Act)
It seems that the recent defence of the controversial Anti-Terror act of 2020 by President Duterte before the United Nations General Assembly is all but as same as those who justify tyranny. That by trying to be somewhat conciliatory to the organisation he detested and criticised, Duterte, known for his brash statements against the U.N. as trying to appeal to other members that his Anti-Terror Act and others as "all accordance with the law", regardless of the criticism that surrounds it.
That by citing the Marawi Siege, the need for an effective legal framework focusing on both eradicating terrorism and the usual reckless response by authorities, What Duterte insist in front of the international community is to justify a law that allows detaining suspects for up to 24 days without charge, designate groups or individuals as suspected terrorists and be subjected whether under surveillance or arrest.
And that by allowing such law may also be used against the opposition, especially when some law enforcers have that reckless move of "guilty till proven innocent against those whose concern for the country may also meant against the administration enforcers sworn to protect; what more of attempts to "regulate" news, social media by these elements with the attempt to stem out "subversion".
But for Duterte and his camarilla of ex-military men and allies, "law is law" no matter might be abused by law enforcers. Wouldn't be surprised if would think about a local variant of "Fuhrerprinzip" as several petitions from various groups (lawyers, legislators, human rights groups) have been filed before the Supreme Court to challenge the constitutionality of the law the way he defended his drug crackdown and dismissed criticism from entities concerned. For sure he would feign having respect for human rights the way he said in his past State of the Nation Address about "human lives over human rights", that "he will continue to protect the human rights of its people, especially from the scourge of illegal drugs, criminality and terrorism,” and at the same time complaining that “interest groups have weaponized human rights” to discredit his government.
“A number of interest groups have weaponized human rights; some well-meaning, others ill-intentioned." Duterte said. They attempt to discredit the functioning institutions and mechanisms of a democratic country and a popularly elected government which in its last two years, still enjoy the same widespread approval and support,”
But he is the same Duterte who once threatened Human Rights Community by calling for police to shoot human rights activists who are “obstructing justice” especially in his Operation Tokhang. He was also the same Duterte who publicly denounced the national Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and threatened to block any CHR investigations of alleged abuses by Philippine security forces as well as stated that the commission would be “better abolished.”
Hence, why he is still meant to be ridiculed despite his 'defence of human rights' he talked about? Wouldn't be surprised that other delegates in the United Nations general assembly are rather skeptic if not outright ridicule Duterte's message.