Statement of the Commission on Human Rights denouncing the killings of a municipal councilor and an IP leader in Maguindanao del Sur
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) denounces the separate killings of Mohammad Usman Alamada and Elvin Moires on 15 September 2024. As the country’s national human rights institution, the Commission has initiated an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding these tragic incidents. According to police reports, Alamada, a municipal councilor of Buluan City, was shot […]
Statement of the Commission on Human Rights on the alleged unjust abduction of three IP advocates in Oriental Mindoro
Pursuant of our Constitutional mandate and other relevant laws, such as the Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in Region IV-B has deployed a team to conduct an independent investigation on the alleged unjust abduction of three indigenous people’s rights (IP) advocates, namely Alia Encela, 19; Job Abednego David, 29; […]
Pahayag sa Commission on Human Rights bahin sa mga paningkamot sa Department of Social Welfare and Development aron panalipdan ang mga Lumad batok sa human trafficking ug pagpahimulos
Indigenous cultural communities (ICCs) or indigenous peoples (IPs) remain one of the most vulnerable sectors of Filipino society. At the height of the pandemic, quarantine restrictions hindered their livelihood activities and further exposed them to entities that exploit the IPs’ vulnerable state by threatening their security and infringing upon their rights to ancestral domain. Even […]
CHR Report: Sitwasyon sa Lumad nga Kababayen-an ug Babaye sa panahon sa COVID-19 Pandemic
The Magna Carta of Women identifies indigenous women and girls as one of the sectors of women whose rights need to be protected, promoted, and upheld. Crucial as well in the fulfillment of their fundamental freedoms is the elimination of discrimination against them. However, when COVID-19 lockdowns were implemented across the country, many within their […]
Statement of CHR Executive Director, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the alleged abduction of an IP rights activist in Tabuk City, Kalinga
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) decries the alleged abduction of 63-year-old Stephen “Steve” Tauli, a member of the regional council of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) and an active advocate of indigenous people’s (IP) rights. Tauli was reported abducted near the CPA Kalinga office at Ag-a Road, Appas, Tabuk City on the evening of […]
Statement of CHR Commissioner, Gwendolyn Ll. Pimentel-Gana, Focal Commission on Indigenous People’s Rights, on the National Indigenous Peoples Month and 24th IPRA commemoration
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) joins the entire Filipino nation in commemoration of the National Indigenous Peoples Month and the 24th year anniversary of the signing of the Indigenous People’s Rights Act (IPRA). The Indigenous People’s (IP) month is celebrated annually on October by virtue of Proclamation No. 1906, s. 2009 which commemorates the […]
Statement of CHR Spokesperson, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the alleged military killing of three Lumad in Lianga, Surigao del Sur
The Commission Human Rights (CHR) denounces the killing of three members of the Lumad-Manobo tribe, including a 12-year-old student, in Lianga, Surigao del Sur. Our CHR Regional Office in Caraga will dispatch an investigation team to look into the violent death of these indigenous peoples allegedly perpetrated by the military. Under the international humanitarian law […]
Pahayag ni CHR Spokesperson, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, sa imbestigasyon sa NCIP sa pagbaligya sa yutang kabilin sa Davao Region
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) fully supports programs of the government that push for improving the lives of communities while providing access to justice when there are human rights violations committed. The CHR welcomes the action of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) in Davao Region as they are already building up cases […]
Statement of CHR spokesperson, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the recent threat to sue a reporter over a report on an alleged torture of Aetas
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) continues to note and express concern over the ongoing threats to the country’s civic space, particularly the recent red tagging and threat to sue journalist Tetch Torres-Tupas over a report on an alleged torture of Aetas who were said to be members of the New People’s Army and a […]
Pahayag ni CHR Spokesperson, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, sa ika-23 nga Anibersaryo sa pagpasa sa Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act
Today, 29 October 2020, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) expresses solidarity with the indigenous communities in the Philippines as the country commemorates the 23rd anniversary of the passage of the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA) and the National Indigenous Peoples Month in October. In 1997, the enactment of IPRA made the Philippines the first […]
Press Statement of CHR Spokesperson, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the Allegations of the Maltreatment of Aetas by the Philippine Army’s 7th Infantry Division
The Commission on Human Rights is concerned by the recent allegations made against the Philippine Army’s 7th Infantry Division (7ID) on the cruel and degrading treatment of some members of the aeta community in San Marcelino, Zambales. Reports alleged that arrested individuals, in an encounter on Friday, 21 August, whom were suspected to be members […]
Statement of Commissioner Gwen Pimentel-Gana on the occasion of the National Indigenous Peoples Day
This year, the county and world are celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day with the theme “COVID-19 and Indigenous Peoples Resilience.” There is much reason to celebrate the resilience of indigenous peoples (IPs) while not forgetting the pressing challenges they face. IPs living in their communities have remained resilient since time immemorial. For centuries, they have employed […]
Statement of CHR Spokesperson, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day
The Commission on Human Rights joins in solidarity with the indigenous communities in the Philippines in amplifying the call to respect and protect indigenous peoples’ rights, especially now that the we are facing a global pandemic. In 2015, the Philippines marked 09 August as the celebration of the “National Indigenous Peoples Day” after adopting the […]
Statement of CHR Spokesperson, Atty. Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the violent dispersal of indigenous peoples’ barricade in Didipio, Nueva Vizcaya
Yesterday, 06 April 2020, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) received a report that more than a hundred police officers escorted three diesel tankers of OceanaGold Philippines Inc (OGPI) and forcibly entered the premises of Brgy. Didipio in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya. The incident led to a violent police dispersal of the people’s barricade, injuring several […]
Statement of CHR spokesperson, Atty. Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the recent attack against Indigenous Community in Davao Del Norte
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is alarmed by the recent attack against an indigenous community in Kapalong, Davao Del Norte by alleged members of the New People’s Army. The said assault occurred early Tuesday morning, 24 March 2020, in the remote village of Sitio Tapayanon, Barangay Gupitan of the said town. The Commission denounces […]
Statement of CHR Spokesperson, Atty. Jacqueline Ann C. de Guia, on COVID-19 relief for indigenous peoples and minority groups
The Commission on Human Rights emphasises that in national health emergencies like the Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), government responses should leave no one behind, including our indigenous communities and other minority groups. Indigenous communities around the world face serious threats from the coronavirus pandemic because of their unique health vulnerability, the lack of access to adequate […]
CHR, int’l organizations call for protection of indigenous peoples rights in renewable energy investments
On 28-30 October 2019, the Commission on Human Rights co-organized an international conference on human rights at Subic Bay Freeport Zone, together with the Forest Peoples Programme, Philippine Association for Inter-cultural Development, and Tebtebba. The event was attended by representatives from indigenous peoples organizations, national human rights institutions (NHRIs), academe, business and civil society organizations […]
Pahayag ni CHR Spokesperson, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, sa pagtukod sa Kaliwa Dam project
The Commission on Human Rights cautions the government to be mindful of its State obligation in implementing development projects such as the construction of Kaliwa Dam in areas covering ancestral domains of indigenous peoples in Rizal and Quezon provinces. While we recognise that there is a legitimate concern on water security in Metro Manila, this […]
Statement of Commission on Human Rights Commissioner Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana on the continued closure of Lumad schools
The Commission on Human Rights reiterates its concern over the continued closure of Lumad schools in the Davao region. It is part of the government’s responsibility to make sure that these children, who are also indigenous people (IP), are able to properly exercise their right to education. As is stated in Republic Act No. 11188, […]
Statement of CHR spokesperson, Atty. Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the suspension of operation of Lumad schools
The recent suspension of operation ordered by the Department of Education (DepEd) against 55 Lumad schools in the Davao region causes concern to the Commission on Human Rights as it affects children, who are also indigenous peoples (IP), recognised as part of the country’s most vulnerable sectors. While we recognise the need to address security […]
Pahayag sa tigpamaba sa CHR, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, sa sugyot nga i-hamlet ang mga lumad isip proteksyon batok sa mga rebeldeng komunista
Ang gobyerno naa gyud sa iyang obligasyon nga panalipdan ang kaayohan sa iyang mga tawo. Bisan pa, ang hamletting isip pamaagi sa kaluwasan sa publiko mahimong moresulta sa daghang paglapas sa tawhanong katungod tungod sa gipatuman nga pagbakwit sa mga komunidad ug indibidwal. Ang maong sugyot naghagit sa konstitusyonal nga katungod sa katawhan sa kagawasan ug kabtangan ug uban pa ug […]