The Commission on Human Rights condemns the untimely death of a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadet identified as Willy Amihoy, 23, a student of Iloilo State College of Fisheries, who was allegedly attacked by a fellow student and ROTC corps commander in the same college.

It is unfortunate that both were under a national program meant to develop physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. Violence should never be allowed in schools and universities—places where we expect our children to learn and grow in safe environments that even stand as their second homes.

We stress that the right to life must always be protected and curtailing it arbitrarily must be punished by law. To this end, we urge the government to allow our laws and due process determine appropriate sanctions to the perpetrator of this crime.