JAMBY: GLORIA MAKES TONGUE-IN-CHEEK INVITATION

The purported plan of Mrs. Arroyo to invite a European Delegation to see for itself the human rights situation in the Philippines is mere propaganda and a ploy to temporarily relieve herself from the questions made by the European Union. Its a clear case of double speak.

If Mrs. Arroyo has nothing to hide, why is she not acting on the requests of the United Nations Independent Experts on Human Rights to invite them to the Philippines . These visit requests have not been acted upon by the Department of Foreign Affairs. These requests were made by the Special Rapporteur on Migrants (Request in 2006); by the Special Rapporteur on Toxic Waste (Request in 2005); by the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Opinion (Request in 2004); by the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food (Request in 2006); by the Working Group on enforced and Involuntary Disappearances (Request in 2006).

Aside from the five pending requests, there are two other visit requests that should have been made possible this year: a request by the Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing and another request made by the Independent Expert on the Question of Human Rights and Extreme Poverty.