The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) expresses alarm over the ambush of Former Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. by unidentified riding-in-tandem suspects on Tuesday, 01 June 2021.

Although Rep. Andaya Jr. and his companions survived the attempted murder, the CHR denounces the vigilante-style violence and calls on local authorities to fully investigate the case to determine the real motive behind the attack, and to prevent the possibility of graver human rights violations.

Now that the national and local elections are approaching, the Commission urges the government to tighten its protection measures to mitigate possible election-related violence. This increase in vigilante activities has negative implications on the country’s security and the democratic process in general.

We also emphasise that if such attack against a high-profile individual could be done in broad daylight, ordinary citizens are more vulnerable to be victims of this kind of violation. If it will go unpunished, tolerated impunity would contribute to the perceived insecurity among communities, and could easily lead to a breakdown of law and order.

For its part, CHR Region V is already conducting a probe and shall work with local authorities to shed light on the incident. ###