It is concerning that, after the Philippine National Police (PNP) guaranteed that the Covid-19 pandemic will not be used crack down dissent or dissenters, the Department of the Interior and Local Government issues a memorandum prohibiting mass gatherings days before the 2020 State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, 27 July 2020.

The change in messaging is stark: from PNP’s willingness to remind and assist protesters observe minimum health standards to express their opinion to a complete ban on mass gatherings.

Such decision from the Philippine government comes at a time when studies from countries such as the United States and Australia show that protests have not caused a spike in virus infections for as long as protesters equally mitigate the risks by wearing face masks; practicing physical distancing; ensuring one’s hands are clean; staying home if they are sick; and other health safety protocols similarly reminded by the World Health Organisation for those attending rallies.

We stress the importance of everyone’s compliance to health protocols. After all, we are under a national health emergency. But, even in the face of a pandemic, human rights need to be recognised. We must equally think of the implications to public health when we don’t demand for accountability and better services from the government that has the obligation to protect its people.

The Liwasang Diokno in front of the Commission on Human Rights in Quezon City remains to be a Freedom Park protected by Batas Pambansa Bilang 880. It is also part of the campus of the University of the Philippines (UP) covered by the UP-Department of National Defense Accord.

For its part, CHR shall be deploying monitoring teams in view of ensuring balance between exercising rights and the corresponding obligation of everyone to protect other people’s rights as well by not causing the spread of virus among others. ###