The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is deeply alarmed of the two incidents of possible extortion and security threat from an alleged commander and a member of the New People’s Army (NPA) done via phone call to the CHR Region X and XII offices.
On 11 May 2022, our Security Officer handling the CHR Region XII cellphone hotline received a call from a person who introduced himself as an NPA Commander and asked for PhP8,000 for his wounded comrade. The caller also asked for a lawyer and warned that he knows all the personnel of CHR Region XII.
On the same day, the CHR Region X office received a call through its hotline from a person who claimed to be an NPA member. He also asked for financial assistance amounting to PhP200,000. The following day, the said regional office received another phone call from a person with the same voice who threatened one of the investigators in CHR Region XII.
CHR strongly condemns these brazen acts of extortion and threats against our regional offices. As an independent National Human Rights Institution, CHR shall not yield to any form of extortion or threat by any individual or group.
We ask all the proper authorities, particularly the Philippine National Police (PNP), to conduct an immediate parallel investigation as we do our own probe on the incident. We also expediently request for PNP to provide security and protection to the said CHR regional offices and their personnel.
The Commission shall continue to conduct its mandate steadfastly and firmly, undeterred by any form of extortion, threat, and/or intimidation.