A/HRC/36/12 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its twenty-seventh session from 1 to 12 May 2017. The review of the Philippines was held at the 11th meeting, on 8 May 2017. The delegation of the Philippines was headed by the Senior Deputy Executive Secretary in the Office of the President, Menardo I. Guevarra, and the Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, Senate of the Philippines, Alan Peter S. Cayetano. At its 17th meeting, held on 11 May 2017, the Working Group adopted the report on the Philippines. 2. On 13 February 2017, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of the Philippines: Kenya, Paraguay and Switzerland. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 and paragraph 5 of the annex to Council resolution 16/21, the following documents were issued for the review of the Philippines: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/27/PHL/1); (b) A compilation prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in accordance with paragraph 15 (b) (A/HRC/WG.6/27/PHL/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/27/PHL/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Belgium, Czechia, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America was transmitted to the Philippines through the troika. These questions are available on the extranet of the universal periodic review. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. The delegation stated that Filipinos believed that people were created in the image of God and that there could be no compromise on human rights and dignity. Filipinos also believed in accountability. 6. The President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, was at the helm of the Government because the people had demanded real change. Filipinos longed for the rule of law, equality and respect for the human rights of all people regardless of faith, social status, sexual orientation, age, disability or ethnicity, or of whether they were from urban or rural areas. 7. The Government was committed to meeting its obligations arising from the treaties it had ratified and to integrating a human rights agenda into its development initiatives. Guided by the Philippine Development Plan for 2017-2022, the Government had adopted a culture- and gender-sensitive paradigm and a human rights-based approach to public service. A campaign against illegal drugs was being pursued to preserve lives and to prevent the country from turning into a narco-State. At all times, the Government upheld the rule of law and President Duterte had adopted a policy of zero tolerance for abuse by law enforcers. The Government had adopted a holistic and balanced approach to addressing crime and illegal drugs. In addition to strengthening law enforcement and judicial mechanisms, it encouraged private sector participation to ensure more effective and sustainable rehabilitation and reintegration programmes for drug users who wished to stop using. 2