MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Thursday urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to come up with “clearer” guidelines for its law enforcers on the ground during the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.
In a statement, CHR spokesperson Atty. Jacqueline De Guia said that the guidelines would assure the public that there would be no abuse of power.
“We then urge the PNP to come up with clearer guidelines for its law enforcers on the ground to assure the public that there will be no abuse of power,” she said in a statement.
“In this way, the public can expect greater accountability from the police by showing that the PNP will remain committed in their motto ‘to serve and protect’ the Filipino people, especially our rights to life and liberty,” De Guia added.
This comes after PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa said that it would not shoot leftists and violators of the enhanced community quarantine.
Gamboa’s pronouncements came after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered to “shoot to kill” the Reds and troublemakers who dare to challenge the quarantine period during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis.
Meanwhile, the CHR spokesperson said that the President’s statement was “dangerous as it may be construed as an official policy from the government.”
“The primacy of human rights even in times of a national health emergency means that due process and the rule of law still apply,” De Guia said.
“Even stricter restrictions, such as the enhanced community quarantine seen to protect the people’s right to health, are guided human rights standards and principles,” she added.
De Guia further claimed that in the end, the people must always “have a voice in democracy.”
“Dissent should not be taken as threats, but as an exercise of rights in a free society… And should there be violations, let our laws be our guide in demanding for accountability,” the CHR spokesperson said.