The rule of law rests on the four principles of accountability, just law, open government, accessible and impartial justice. Under the rule of law, all individuals, including the government are subject to the law and should be guided by its principles.

A nation of laws must be guided first and foremost by the principle of accountability. No one, regardless of status, is exempt from the law. Ultimately, the government and its officials too are subject to the laws of the country. For many years, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has expressed concerns over the increasing deaths in the campaign against illegal drugs. We have, in the past, and present continued to call for stronger law enforcement cooperation with the CHR and the government’s continued action in prosecuting those responsible for suspicious deaths under the war on drugs.

On press freedom, we have expressed continuous denouncements on media killings, harassments and censorship, continued to investigate several cases and supported the governments task force on media killings. A free press functions as an accountability mechanism that helps inform the general citizenry on the current affairs of the state. It rests on the premise that well-informed citizens are in the best position to promote, protect and defend the values of a democratic society.

Accountability is not only national in scope, but also seeks adherence to international agreements agreed upon by the state. Thus, CHR has urged against, from the beginning, legislative action for the re-imposition of the death penalty. While the country remains death penalty free, legislative agendas to reintroduce capital punishment further mar our efforts to ensure obligation to international human rights law such as the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

We recall that in November of last year, the 2020 Gallup Global Law and Order report found, through randomized survey, the Philippines to be among the world’s safest countries. It may be hard to reconcile how a country is perceived to be safe by its citizens but rank low on another survey commissioned focusing on the rule of law. We cannot ignore that present realities on the ground coupled with the pandemic have changed the view of individuals.

What we are assured of is this—the realities of the ground can no longer be ignored. Ultimately, the truth trumps perception. That is why we ask the media to continue documenting cases of abuse, just as we continue to investigate and call the national government for accountability.

We have hope in the recent pronouncements of Philippine National Police Chief Guillermo Eleazar and Department of Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra on their commitment to improving the rule of law. They, the Filipino people and the international community can be assured, the Commission too will continue to do its part in exacting accountability for human rights violations.###