CHR Chairman Chito Gascon (right) attended the special joint session of Congress on Saturday, July 22, 2017, to decide on the extension of martial law in Mindanao. (Photo from the Facebook account of the Commission on Human Rights)
While Congress was deliberating on the extension of martial law in Mindanao, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) pitched in its two cents: An extension won鈥檛 be necessary.
鈥淭he government has the full capacity and ability to address any extremist threat and lawless violence within established powers and authorities of our security forces and chain of command, without the necessity of further exercising the martial law powers,鈥� the CHR Public Afairs Office, headed by lawyer Jacqueline de Guia, said in a statement issued on Saturday.
The CHR said it had confidence that the military could 鈥渆ffectively quell terrorism鈥� spread by Islamic State-inspired armed groups in Marawi City and 鈥渞estore law and order in the whole of Mindanao even without martial law.鈥�
The CHR also called for upholding human rights in any context, noting that CHR regional offices in Mindanao had started investigating allegations of human rights violations following the declaration of martial law.
The CHR said civilians and noncombatants, especially Muslims, 鈥渟uffer much from the continuing violent conflict in Mindanao.鈥�
鈥淲e are concerned that the manner by which aerial bombardment employed in Marawi did not sufficiently take into account the time-honored standards of distinction, proportionality and necessity in International Humanitarian Law resulting in tremendous damage and destruction,鈥� the CHR statement read.
鈥淲e are moved by the humanitarian crisis of massive dislocation and displacement of over 90,000 families in both evacuation centers as well as in host homes across Mindanao that are not adequately attended to,鈥� the statement said.
But the CHR also praised 鈥渢he courage and bravery鈥� of government troops, saying their rights and welfare must also be upheld. It condemned the actions of the rebel armed groups led by the Maute Group.
The CHR also said it respected the powers of President Rodrigo Duterte and trusted that his decisions to address the crisis had 鈥渟ound foundation.鈥�
鈥淲e [only] ask that due consideration to the full exercise of fundamental human rights and the recognition of the dignity of all will be respected. Please do not think we are any less patriotic when these concerns are raised as the constitution itself enshrines the same values,鈥� the CHR said. /atm
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