CHR calls for stronger enforcement of laws vs abduction

Commission on Human Rights INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has called for a stronger implementation of Republic Act No. 10535, which bars enforced disappearances after two pro-environment activists in Pangasinan were abducted.

CHR on Wednesday said they are gravely alarmed after receiving reports that Francisco Dangla and Axielle Tiong were abducted by still unidentified individuals in Barangay Polo of San Carlos, Pangasinan.

READ: 2 environmentalists allegedly abducted in Pangasinan 

The Commission said that while they have started an investigation on the matter, they stress the need for a stronger implementation of the law and for the government to address abduction issues.

“The [CHR] is gravely alarmed upon receiving reports on the abduction of environmental rights defenders and church workers Francisco ‘Eco’ Dangla III, 39 and Axielle ‘Jak’ Tiong, 29, on 24 March 2024, at Barangay Polo, San Carlos, Pangasinan. Pursuant to its mandate, CHR has prompted an investigation to immediately look into the incident,” CHR said in a statement.

“We stress the need for a stricter implementation of R.A. No. 10535, or the Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act, to address these cases and ensure that solutions on the level of policy-making can be utilized.

Alongside the need to search for the whereabouts of missing human rights defenders is the identification of the perpetrators to hold them accountable under the eyes of the law,” it added.

Reports from rights group Karapatan on Monday said that witnesses saw Dangla and Tiong being “severely mauled, and dragged to a waiting SUV at on or about 8:00 p.m.” last Sunday.

Karapatan added that the abduction of the two activists marked the 7th and 8th instances of such attacks against environmentalists “across the central plains of Luzon.”

READ: Cooperate in finding missing activists or face probe, warns lawmaker 

CHR also warned the public anew about the dangers of red-tagging or the practice of linking activists or people expressing legitimate dissent to communist rebels.  According to the commission, red-tagging people can endanger their lives as they are accused of being affiliated with the armed insurgency without sufficient evidence.

“The CHR also notes that the victims have already been targets of red-tagging prior to the incident. We take this opportunity to remind everyone that all acts of red-tagging put the welfare of individuals at risk and may endanger their life, liberty and security. It is, therefore, an outright violation of one’s human rights,” CHR said.

“CHR urges for the exhaustive search of Dangla and Tiong. This can only be made possible through the immediate efforts of all relevant government and law enforcement agencies to act on this incident. Parallel to the State obligation to protect the rights of all Filipinos is the responsibility to resolve the growing susceptibility of human rights defenders to suspected enforced or involuntary disappearances,” it added.

CHR also stressed the need for the government to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, which they believe is an important step in ensuring that people’s rights against abduction are protected.

READ: Labor group prods gov’t to probe disappearance of 2 activists 

“To further express the country’s commitment to safeguard the rights of all Filipinos, including the rights defenders, we also prompt the need for the Philippines to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. We all have the inherent right to not be subjected to enforced disappearances, and no circumstance shall ever justify this crime,” CHR said.

“The Commission remains undeterred in its call for a collective action to resolve all cases of disappearances in the country. We all hold the responsibility to foster a country that is conducive to the promotion and protection of the rights of all, and a large proportion of this lies [in] the need to put an end to the culture of impunity and to reinforce the wheels of justice,” it added.