CHR laments surge in cases of extrajudicial killings, abuses

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) expressed concern on Friday over the “sharp” increase in cases of enforced disappearance, extrajudicial killings, torture and arbitrary arrests in the country.

“Bumababa ang incidence of human rights violations kumpara nang panahong martial law or early years since martial law pero ang medyo mas malungkot, nagpapatuloy pa rin ‘yung mga cases of forced disappearance, extrajudicial killings, torture and arbitrary arrests na hindi dapat nangyayari sa isang lipunang demokratiko at malaya,” CHR Chairperson Jose Luis Martin Gascon said in an interview with reporters after attending the hearing of the Senate finance subcommittee.

(The incidence of human rights violations has gone down compared with those during the martial law or the early years since the martial law, but it’s saddening that cases of forced disappearance, extrajudicial killings, torture and arbitrary arrests continue to happen in this supposedly free and democratic society.)

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“So that’s why the Commission on Human Rights is really asking for more support so that we might be able to address these cases,” Gascon said.

He pointed out a recent case in Central Luzon where a juvenile who was under detention was later found dead.

“These things should not be the norm,” the CHR chief said, “So while the overall cases have dwindled, the fact that there are sharp increases in enforced disappearance, extrajudicial killings and torture [are] a matter of concern.”

Gascon could not immediately provide, however, the number of cases recorded by the CHR but said it has a database system on such incidents.

“Pero ang matingkad since 2005 onwards, e nag-increase overall although this year, sa usapin ng enforced disappearance, zero,” he further said.

(It’s clear that from 2005, onwards, the cases have increased overall, but this year, zero enforced disappearance has been reported.)

During the hearing on the proposed budget of the CHR, Gascon also told the committee that new reports of extrajudicial killings are recorded almost on a weekly basis. IDL