The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) recognises how the President’s 2019 State of the Nation Address has focused on improving the lives of the nation’s vulnerable and marginalised by recognising the need to improve how they enjoy their rights.

The right to a healthy environment, for example, was discussed through efforts to rehabilitate Boracay and improve disaster resilience; the right to a living wage by finding ways to increase the salaries of teachers and nurses; the right to education by improving access of Filipino children to schools; and even discussing the importance of addressing corruption as it violates human rights by depriving disadvantaged groups and individuals crucial public services. These cover a part of our economic, social, and cultural human rights.

While these fulfil certain government obligations, we also reiterate our strong position against the reimposition of death penalty.

We stress that any move to bring back capital punishment in the country violates the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. By ratifying the treaty, the Philippines has agreed to take all necessary measures to prevent any execution since we suspended its imposition in 2007 under the former presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Instead, what we need is a strong, responsive justice system that won’t allow perpetrators of crimes escape the long arm of the law—including plunders and those involved in illegal drug sale and use.

In the end, we must improve the way we appreciate and protect the right to life of all persons. CHR continues to extend our willingness to engage the government in an honest, factual discussion on this issue.

At the same time, we also caution the government on the concerns arising from proposals to make the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) mandatory, including reports of fatal violence in the past. These cannot be simply ignored and left unaddressed, especially if the proposal seeks to impose ROTC among high school students. Schools and universities should be safe spaces for children. Violence should never be condoned.

The challenge for everyone, most especially for the government as the primary duty-bearer, is to build on the gains of human rights laws and policies passed by the previous Congress. These pieces of legislation will come to naught if not faithfully implemented based on their spirit and letters.

It is then unfortunate that inappropriate jokes still found its way in the 2019 SONA and, to this end, we emphasise the need to be circumspect in all utterances, with due regard to human dignity.

And as the 18th Congress opens, we equally remind each and every solon of what the 1987 Philippine Constitution expects from them: to “give highest priority to the enactment of measures that protect and enhance the right of all the people to human dignity, reduce social, economic, and political inequalities, and remove cultural inequities by equitably diffusing wealth and political power for the common good.”

In the end, it is the government’s duty to respect, protect, and promote the rights of all—without favour or discrimination to any group. Laws are meant to protect our rights and should never be used to advance the welfare of only a few. ###