THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in the Cordillera have documented 39 cases of human rights abuse consisting of 38 civil and political rights and a single issue of economic-social violation with 200 requests for legal assistance.
This was shared by CHR-Cordillera regional director Romel Daguimol during the observation of the 70th International Human Rights Day in Baguio City.
Despite having a gloomy situation of human rights violation in the country, the Cordillera region remains to be at the lower end as compared to other regions.
Daguimol said, “As to the human rights situation in the Cordillera, we are much fortunate. Relatively, we have lesser numbers of issues on human rights.”
“Hopefully for the next years to come, we are hoping all of the people in the Cordillera will be empowered for them to assert their rights because there are basic rights that government provides to the people being the duty bearers to provide, promote and protecting human rights,” the CHR director added.
One of the agencies of government prone to allegations of human rights abuse are the police, but the CHR assures the equal application of rights even to the police under the countries present system.
“Our law enforcers faces cases when in the course of their Implementation of their basic mandate in order to serve and protect, solve crimes and implement the law. And if any alleged abuse is done, then they will be liable to face charges because this is considered as outside the norms of the law,” Daguimol added.
Police Superintendent Lou Salvador Clara of the Regional Human Rights Affairs Office (HRAO) reported seven personnel of the Regional Command have been investigated by the CHR.
“Even if our personnel have been filed with a case on alleged human rights, still they are given the opportunity to submit their counter affidavit on what transpired on their part as their right to due process,” Claro said. (Jonathan Llanes)