The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) will be conducting a motu propio investigation on the slay-attempt of Calamba, Misamis Occidental mayoralty bet George Matunog Jr. The victim was shot on Sunday, 13 March, while walking towards his home in Purok 1 of Barangay Southwestern Poblacion by an unidentified gunman aboard a motorcycle.
CHR condemns this brazen assault on an individual’s right to life and expresses its concern over this recent incident.
Continued occurrences of vigilante-violence to electoral candidates, if left unabated, may lead to a chilling effect on our electoral system and negatively impacts the country’s security and the democratic process in general. We cannot allow this culture of violence and impunity be a norm during the election period. We equally urge the government to swiftly act and investigate these incidents to hold perpetrators to account.