CHR slams ambush of police officers in Oriental Mindoro

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has condemned the attack on police officers who were on their way to a radio interview in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.

CHR Spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia urged the government on Thursday to investigate the attack on Chief Master Sergeant Ivan Fortus, Senior Master Sergeant Irene Lazo, and Corporal Ivy Carmona last September 24.

She said CHR would conduct its own probe too.

“We call on the government to investigate this case and explore all possible angles of the attack. CHR, for its part, shall also be investigating this case towards ensuring that perpetrators are made to account,” De Guia said in a statement.

Reports said that the three officers, including another victim Nolito dela Cruz who was the barangay captain of Palayan in Pinamalayan town of Oriental Mindoro, were riding a mobile patrol on their way to the radio station.

After a loud explosion was heard, unidentified men opened fire on the convoy, but the officers from Pamalayan’s Municipal Police Station were able to evade the attack.

A day later, communist rebel group New People’s Army (NPA) owned up to the attack, claiming that there were 12 casualties in the attack.

READ: 3 cops wounded in ambush in Oriental Mindoro

READ: NPA owns ambush in Oriental Mindoro

CHR has been tagged by administration supporters as anti-police and sympathizers of the communist rebels, as they have criticized attacks on what were perceived as members of the communist movement.

The commission has also been at odds with President Rodrigo Duterte himself, as the former has supposedly stood against the Philippine National Police’s  (PNP) drug war.

READ: CHR: Collateral damage in police operations must not be dismissed 

READ: CHR calls on gov’t to probe other ‘nanlaban’ cases

READ: CHR unfazed by Duterte ‘warning’ amid war on drugs

However, De Guia stressed that law enforcers — just like any Filipino — should be protected by the law.

“Police officers are equally entitled to the protection of their rights as humans with dignity,” De Guia explained.

“As such, they too should not be subjected to arbitrary threats against life and security among others, especially when not in combat,” she added./ac