The Commission on Human Rights is already investigating the case involving the alleged trumped up murder charges against Cordillera Peoples’ Alliance chair Windel Bolinget, alongside other activists and human rights workers also allegedly facing false charges.

More concerning is the shoot-to-kill order issued by Cordillera police chief, Police Brig. Gen. R’win Pagkalinawan, for Bolinget should the human rights activist and group leader resist arrest for the said charge. Since the issuance of the threat, Bolinget had already turned himself over to the National Bureau of Investigation in Baguio City for custody and protection.

This continuing situation faced by human rights defenders equally demands the echoing of the call for their protection. Human rights defenders, in their role to uplift the conditions on the ground and lend voices to the underrepresented, must be allowed to safely carry out their work without fear of harassment and harm, especially as they call out and demand better services from the government.

We at the CHR continues to remind the government, particularly our law enforcers, to maintain adherence and respect for the rule of law. Presumption of innocence and guarantee for due process are vested rights upon any individual granted by the Constitution.

CHR also continues to stress that activism is a crucial facet of a democracy. The government has the primary obligation to respect, protect, and fulfill the rights of all. It is a grave mistake to construe the demand for the government to live up to this expectation as a form of terrorism or discredit and dismiss legitimate causes as a communist agenda.

At the same time, we equally stress that calls for change and expression of demands should always be guided with existing laws and, therefore, must be legal and within the bounds of ones rights.

CHR joins the call in the statement of the UN experts to put a stop to attempts to silence and delegitimise the human rights work of various groups. We will continue to do our work as an independent national human rights organisation and shall be reaching out to all concerned parties. We look forward to the cooperation of both the government and other private individuals involved.This continuing situation faced by human rights defenders equally demands the echoing of the call for their protection.