CHR says it has received over 200 complaints related to ECQ

The Commission on Human Rights has received more than 200 complaints related to the enhanced community quarantine since the precautionary lockdown against COVID-19 was implemented, the CHR said Sunday.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, CHR spokesperson Jacqueline De Guia said that the commission received 103 ECQ-related complaints from March 16 to 31, and 136 in April so far.

“Marami pong katanungan kaugnay sa pag-aresto, pag-detain noong umpisa ng ECQ, pero ngayon ang mga reklamo ay yung mga hindi nakatanggap ng ayuda,” De Guia said.

While acknowledging the legality of arrest over curfew violations, De Guia reminded authorities that punishment must be in accordance with the law.

“May sapat na basehan ang pamahalaan na humuli kapag may curfew kaya lang kapag umaresto dapat in accordance with the law,” she said.

“Dapat makatao yung ipinapataw na punishment sa isang tao. Maraming LGU ang nakakalimot,” she added.

De Guia cited an incident where arrested minors were locked up inside a dog cage in Laguna.  She added that the CHR is investigating another incident in which violators were forced to walk for two hours in Caloocan.

“Doon sa R.A. No. 9745 o Anti-Torture Act nagsasabi na dapat makatao o hindi torture, cruel, humiliating ang punishment,” she said.

“Doon sa pag-impose nila ng punishment, marami doong bumabagsak sa

De Guia said many of authorities involved violate Section 4, which pertains to physical and psychological torture.

“Yung pagpapahiya, considered mental torture 'yan. Yung pag-expose mo either sa sobrang init o sobrang lamig, considered as physical torture. Yung pinupuwersa mo na gupitin ang buhok, considered as mental torture,” she said. — Joviland Rita/BM, GMA News