The University of the Philippines Integrated School said Tuesday it also opposed the nomination of its alumnus, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, to the International Law Commission, citing his poor track record of defending human rights.
The Exceutive Committee of UPIS said it concurred with the position of the UP Diliman Executive Committee that "[Roque's] inclusion in the Commission would not serve its purpose but instead diminish the reputation of the body."
Roque, an alumnus of UPIS Batch 1982, went viral last week for lashing out at health workers calling on authorities to extend quarantines as hospital beds filled up again due to Delta surges—a misstep that was heavily criticized online.
He has since apologized and countered the assessment of UP Diliman, citing his counsel to the families of journalists who perished in the Maguindanao massacre, the families of slain transgender Jennifer Laude, and torture victim Darius Evangelista.
The cases were handled before he joined President Rodrigo Duterte's administration. Prior to serving the current administration, he taught international law in UP Diliman for 15 years.
"I wish to challenge this assessment because it is untrue. For over 30 years, I have been an advocate of human rights, having spent most of my professional life as a member of civil society and as a public interest lawyer representing persons and sectors who have needed to be championed," Roque said in a statement.
The International Law Commission is a body of 34 experts working on the "promotion of the progressive development of international law and its codification," its website said.
Members are elected by the United Nations General Assembly and are xpected to be "of recognized competence in international law."
Roque is in New York to campaign for his seat. If elected, he is set ot serve a five-year term that starts on Jan. 1, 2023.
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