Statement of the Commission on Human Rights on the discovery of severed body parts in Bacolod City
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) condemns the mutilation of a missing unknown victim whose severed hands were discovered in a trash bag found in Bacolod City on Thursday, 26 January 2023. The hands were sealed in an ice cream container containing a note listing the names of several residents of Barangay 2, Bacolod City, […]
Statement of the Commission on Human Rights on the ruling of the Caloocan City Regional Trial Court regarding the killings of teenagers Carl Arnaiz and Reynaldo de Guzman under the anti-illegal drugs campaign
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) welcomes the verdict of the Caloocan City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 122 convicting police officer Jeffrey Perez of torture, planting of evidence and firearm, as well as moral damages in the killings of teenagers Carl Arnaiz and Reynaldo “Kulot” de Guzman during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign against […]
Statement of CHR Executive Director, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, welcoming DOJ’s commitment to continue the drug war probe
On Wednesday, 3 August 2022, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla expressed the agency’s commitment to continue their investigations on the previous administration’s campaign against illegal drugs, as well as share with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) all data they have obtained. The Commission duly acknowledges these statements as affirmations to their […]
Statement of CHR Spokesperson, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the death of a 16-year old boy during an anti-drug operation in Laguna
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is deeply concerned with the news on another death of a minor—this time involving a 16-year old boy who allegedly fought back (nanlaban) when police officers were serving a warrant for a drug charge in Biñan, Laguna. We shall be conducting our own independent probe on this incident to […]
Statement of CHR Spokesperson, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the government’s regression of commitment to fully open cases of alleged extrajudicial killings linked to the drug campaign to investigations
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) regrets the new position of the Palace preventing the full and unqualified access to cases involving alleged extrajudicial killings linked to the government’s drug campaign. The new statement from the government is a setback just when the Philippine National Police (PNP) has already agreed to open around 7,000 cases […]
Statement of CHR spokesperson, Atty. Jacqueline Ann de Guia, welcoming the PNP’s cooperation with the DOJ in investigating 7,000 cases of alleged deaths during anti-drug operations
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) welcomes the Philippine National Police (PNP)’s expression of close cooperation with the Department of Justice (DOJ) in investigating 7,000 cases involving alleged deaths linked to police anti-drug operations. This initial pronouncement, which will soon be formalized into a memorandum of agreement, is a positive development. The collaboration between the […]
Statement of the CHR Spokesperson, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the announcement of the PNP Chief to open around 7,000 cases involving alleged deaths during drug operations
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) welcomes the announcement of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Guillermo Eleazar to also open around 7,000 cases involving deaths linked to the government’s drug campaign to scrutiny and investigations. This is a gesture of openness and cooperation from the PNP necessary in pursuing justice and accountability for […]
Statement of CHR Spokesperson, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the agreement of the Philippine National Police to open its records on 61 police operations allegedly resulting in deaths of drug suspects
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) acknowledges the decision of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to open 61 cases of police operations for review, particularly those allegedly resulted in the deaths of drug suspects. PNP’s willingness in opening these cases for scrutiny is a step towards the right direction. CHR, even from the start, has […]
Statement of CHR Commissioner Gwen Pimentel Gana on the brazen and brutal drug-related killings and the need for genuine government investigations
It can be recalled that the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights in June 2020 has called the attention of the Philippine Government on the ‘widespread human rights violation and persistent impunity’ in the country. The Philippine Government in June 2020 has committed to review in particular the 5,655 nanlaban cases and engage […]
Statement of Commissioner Karen Gomez-Dumpit on the Passage of House Bill No. 7814, providing for the ‘Presumption of Guilt’ and Reintroduction of the Death Penalty as amendments to the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002
We express grave concern on the votes in favor of House Bill No. 7814, which passed on third reading yesterday, 2 March 2021, at the House of Representatives. We wish to highlight that our system of laws adheres to the rule of law and its basic tenets provide that a person is presumed innocent until […]
Statement of CHR Spokesperson, Atty. Jacqueline Ann de Guia, recommending concrete measures to address jail congestion
The widespread congestion of jails has been a persistent problem in our country. In recent years, it has worsened due to the high and sudden influx of arrested suspects in relation to the anti-drug campaign. There are also other reasons such as delay in the issuance of commitment orders, slow disposition of cases or protracted […]
Statement of CHR Spokesperson, Atty. Jacqueline Ann De Guia, on the death of a 3-year-old girl during a police operation in Rodriguez, Rizal
She would’ve turned four (4) by the end of July, but Myka Ulpina’s life was cut short in the hands of those who swore to protect it. The Commission on Human Rights condemns the death of another innocent life as a consequence of the government’s war against illegal drugs. As there are disputes in the […]
Statement of CHR spokesperson, Atty. Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the Supreme Court’s decision to release the documents on the government’s anti-drug campaign
We welcome the recent decision of the Supreme Court favouring the release of documents related to the government’s campaign against illegal drugs. The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) sees this directive as a reminder to the government to observe the rule of law in the face of rising human rights violations that abound. Even from […]
Statement of CHR spokesperson, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the ‘drug-free’ sticker drive of Brgy. Commonwealth, Quezon City
The recent sticker drive led by local officials of Brgy Commonwealth, Quezon City introduces a number of possible human rights violations. While we recognise the intent of curbing the problem of illegal drug, sale, and use, initiatives should always be done within the bounds of law and other Constitutional guarantees, including the presumption of innocence […]
Statement of CHR Spokesperson, Atty. Jacqueline de Guia, on the threat to the life of Bishop David
The Threat to the Life of Bishop David is a Threat to All Freedom-Loving Filipinos The Commission on Human Rights denounces any form of intimidation, harassment and threat to life as an assault to human dignity and freedom. After receiving multiple death threats, Bishop Pablo David decided to skip the Ka Pepe Diokno Human Rights […]
CHR hopeful with PDEA’s lead in the drug campaign
17 October 2017 PRESS RELEASE CHR hopeful with PDEA’s lead in the drug campaign Quezon City—The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) today welcomed the decision of the administration to designate the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) as the lead agency that will carry out the government’s campaign against illegal drugs. “We are hopeful that […]