The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) respects the decision of the Supreme Court ruling that the third extension of martial law Is constitutional. However, CHR maintains that such declaration should be reserved as an extraordinary measure for lawless violence, invasion or rebellion, as determined in the Constitution, and should never be the norm.

As previously expressed, we are confident that our security forces, police and military combined, can effectively address terrorism and other lawless elements in Mindanao without the need for martial law.

But, while the said declaration is still in effect, we continue to remind the government to ensure that alleged human rights violations are addressed, such as claims of torture, profiling, and other infringement of rights caused by continuing internal displacement of communities arising even from its first instance of declaration.

In the end, securing our country should not come at the expense of fundamental rights and liberties.