By Raymund Antonio

Vice President Leni Robredo has expressed disappointment over the Philippines’ vote against the United Nations Human Rights Council’s (UNHRC) resolution condemning the human rights violations against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.

Of the 46 member states, it was only the Philippines and China that voted “No” on the resolution during the UNHRC’s 42nd general assembly held in Geneva, Switzerland last week.

There were 37 countries that voted in favor of the resolution while seven others abstained. Among those that abstained were Ukraine, Congo, Angola, Cameroon, Japan, India, and Nepal.

Robredo said the Philippines could have abstained since the country’s explanation for voting against the UN resolution acknowledged the abuses happening against Rohingya Muslims and other minorities.

“Parang sinasabi niya na, totoong may mga nangyayaring hindi maganda pero iyong hinihingi lang namin na mas long-term, iyong solusyon na hahanapin, hindi lang short-term. Parang nagsa-sang-ayon naman na talagang kailangang proteksyunan iyong mga Rohingya refugees,” she said.

(It seemed like it was saying something bad were happening but we ask for long-term solutions, not only short-term. It agreed on the need to protect the Rohingya refugees.)

“Mayroon talagang nangyayari at kailangang may gawin tayo…Tama iyong explanation pero iyong pagboto kasi ng ‘No,’ parang maraming tao na ang hindi tinitingnan iyong dahilan ng boto pero tinitingnan kung bumoto ka ba ng ‘Yes’ or ‘No,’” she added.

(There were abuses happening and we need to do something about it…. The explanation was correct, but voting ‘No,’ it seemed many people don’t look at the reason behind the vote, it was only whether the vote was either ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’)

The opposition leader explained the “No” vote gives the impression the Philippines doesn’t recognize the human rights abuses in Myanmar.

“Puwede namang mag-abstain at saka i-explain iyong abstention. Pero iyong pag-‘No’ kasi, nagkakaroon ng misimpression na hindi natin kinikilala, ‘di ba?” Robredo said.

(We can abstain and explain our abstention. But with the vote of ‘No,’ there is a misimpression we ignore it, right?)

The six-page UN resolution “expresses grave concern at continuing reports of serious human rights violations and abuses in Myanmar, including against Rohingya Muslims and other minorities.”

These included arbitrary arrests, torture, and other forms of degrading treatment or punishment, forced labor, forced displacement of Rohingya Muslims, and violence against women and children, among others.