Statement of the Commission on Human Rights calling for the immediate release of the oldest political prisoner in the Philippines
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) urges the Philippine government to expedite the release of Gerardo “Gerry” Dela Peña, the oldest political prisoner in the country, after having served more than a decade of his prison term as of 2024. Dela Peña, 85, was arrested on 21 March 2013 at the age of 74 in […]
Statement of the Commission on Human Rights on the alleged strip search of relatives of political prisoners in Metro Manila District Jail Annex 4
Rules 51 and 52(1) of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, or the Mandela Rules, state that security searches “shall not be used to harass, intimidate or unnecessarily intrude upon a prisoner’s privacy” and that “intrusive searches shall be conducted in private and by trained staff of the same sex […]
Statement of the Commission on Human Rights on the high death rate among persons deprived of liberty
The 2021 data of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) revealed that 1,166 individuals out of the total 48,501 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) died within correctional facilities—the highest figure in 32 years. As of September 2022, there have already been more than 700 PDLs who have died in custody. This is tantamount to three to […]
Statement of CHR Spokesperson Atty. Jacqueline Ann de Guia, welcoming the no-contact Christmas jail visitations
The Commission on Human Rights welcomes the recent announcement from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) on the preparations they have undertaken for the resumption of the granular opening of the “no contact visitations” among Person Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) this Christmas season. Under the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment […]
Statement of CHR spokesperson, Atty. Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the cancellation of privileges of inmates nationwide
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) believes that ensuring the rule of law equally requires enforcing appropriate sentences and punishments for those convicted with crimes. And once within prisons, limited liberty is to be expected. CHR, however, reminds the government that there are guiding principles such as the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment […]