Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez brushed aside as unfounded, fake news and rehash the claims of the European Parliament on the Duterte administration’s record of human rights violations and expressed confidence the Philippines will not lose its duty-free privileges on exports to the European Union (EU).
Reacting to the adoption by the European Parliament of a resolution on Feb. 17, 2022 on the recent human rights developments in the Philippines, Lopez decried the “bullying” of a huge economic bloc such as the EU in destroying the image of a small country such as the Philippines just because “some of their parliament members are misinformed.”
The resolution – adopted by 627 votes in favor, 26 against and 31 abstentions – called on the European Commission “to set clear, public, time-bound benchmarks for the Philippines to comply with its human rights obligations under the Generalized System of Preferences+ (GSP+) scheme.”
It also strongly reiterated its call on the Commission “to immediately initiate the procedure which could lead to the temporary withdrawal of GSP+ preferences if there is no substantial improvement and willingness to cooperate on the part of the Philippine authorities.”
The EU Parliament expressed its strong condemnation on the thousands of extrajudicial killings and other serious human rights violations related to President Duterte’s “war on drugs” as well as all intimidation and violence against those seeking to expose allegations of such abuses in the country, such as human rights activists, journalists and critics.
“The allegations are not new, and are still unfounded. Their allegations on human rights and lack of press freedom are fake news, and those only give false impressions on the real situation in the Philippines,” Lopez said, as he coaxed the EU politicians to “ visit our beautiful country.”
Lopez said government is ready to belie the allegations with data when the EU Commission conducts its GSP+ monitoring mission at the end of the month.
“We have policies and programs that ensure there is compliance to the protocols and rules of engagement as well as prosecution procedures to those who violated,” Lopez said.
He added: “It is unfortunate that the politicians of a huge economic bloc is the one destroying the image of small democratic country of peace-loving Filipinos, and it is like bullying a small country. They should ask the Filipinos in their companies or communities. They should also ask the EU citizens, the EU business chambers in the country. “
The monitoring, Lopez said, is more systematic and organized in obtaining accurate information regarding the real situation in the country. “ They get to visit as well the projects and the marginalized sectors that get to benefit from the EU GSP+ and other stakeholders.”
As a beneficiary of the EU GSP+, “the Philippines must effectively implement 27 international conventions on human rights, labor rights, environmental protection and good governance, “ the text of the resolution said.
Lopez said it has been proven that Philippines is compliant with these 27 international core conventions as it continues to enjoy the GSP+.
The scheme, he added, has redounded to to benefit the marginalized sectors of the economy, the fisherfolks, farmers, micro, small and medium enterprises, the workers in the value chain of the exporters, “ precisely fulfilling the objectives of the GSP+ , which is to help address poverty and inequality. “
Lopez added: “I don’t think they will be turning their back on these noble development objectives.”
In 2020, about 1.6 billion euros or 26 percent of total Philippine exports to EU enjoyed preferential treatment under the GSP+. The scheme expires in December 2023.
