Coalition in Cebu targets rights abuses under Duterte

Criticism against Duterte’s drug war included accusations that it was antipoor. —INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

CEBU CITY—A group of Cebuanos, mostly lawyers, have formed a coalition to monitor and document cases of human rights abuses. The coalition, Cebu for Human Rights (CFHR), was launched on Tuesday.

Democrito Barcenas, one of the organizers, said people should not keep mum amid killings and other human rights abuses being committed by the administration of President Duterte.

Arvin Odron, head of the regional office of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), said the CHR would be a partner of CFHR.

Police records showed at least 188 drug suspects had been gunned down in clashes with police while 213 were gunned down in vigilante-style killings. —ADOR VINCENT MAYOL