ALLEGED IRREGULARITIES | CHR wants PNP to clarify ‘anomalous arrests’ of seven activists last week

December 14, 2020 , 11:12 AM

(December 14, 2020) – The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Sunday said it will conduct its own investigation into the arrests of six trade union organizers and a journalist last week during the celebration of International Human Rights Day.

CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia also called out the Philippine National Police (PNP) for the questionable arrests. She said that not a few people have noted the irregularities in the implementation of the search warrants.

“Such arrests are cause for concern given that there were statements by families and concerned personalities alleging irregularities and errors in the said operations, including the fact that arrests were made in the midst of red-tagging of activists and human rights workers,” said De Guia in a statement.

Last Thursday, the police arrested trade union organizers Dennise Velasco, Mark Ryan Cruz, Romina Raiselle Astudillo, Jaymie Gregorio, Joel Demate, and Rodrigo Esparago and journalist Lady Ann Salem all for illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

While numerous firearms, ammunition, and even several grenades were seized, progressive groups insist that these were merely planted by the police.

“It would be then for the government’s benefit, particularly the PNP, to address these doubts and allegations of anomalous arrests, especially that several pronouncements were already made by this administration, here and abroad, on its commitment to respect and protect the human rights of all,” said De Guia.

The government has ramped up its operations against activists and progressive groups in the past few weeks, despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent pledge to the United Nations that he will uphold human rights.

While the CHR acknowledged the pronouncement, they are challenging Duterte, who has always see-sawed on the issue of human rights, to enact more concrete actions.

“These commitments need to be translated to actual reforms, including effectiveness of redress mechanisms in addressing similar allegations and different human rights violations. For if these pledges will remain as words, then we would not only fail the human rights cause, but this would also render hollow the government’s primary assertions that it will abide by its obligation to uphold the rights of all,” said De Guia.

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