CHR to probe Silay police for parading violators in Negros Occidental

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Saturday said its regional office in Western Visayas will conduct an investigation on the local police of Silay, Negros Occidental after it paraded alleged quarantine violators on the city streets.

In a statement, CHR spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia said the probe will also give the Silay City Police a chance to explain themselves.

“At the same time, we look forward to the cooperation of the PNP in Silay City towards addressing this human rights concern,” she said.

De Guia was referring to a now-deleted video posted on Facebook that showed a procession of a group of individuals who allegedly violated the city's face mask ordinance.

Following the incident, De Guia reminded law enforcers anew to respect the dignity of violators of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) protocols.

“We continuously remind law enforcers to adhere to human rights-based policing, including respect for every person's dignity,” De Guia said.

“Parading alleged quarantine violators on the streets may amount to cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment or punishment penalized by Republic Act No. 9745 (Anti-Torture Act) and barred by Convention Against Torture signed by the Philippines,” she added.

While the CHR is one with the government in its fight against COVID-19, De Guia reminded authorities to remain guided by human rights principles.

“[A]s we have repeatedly stressed, addressing the current pandemic must always be guided by human rights principles. After all, the present national health crisis is a human rights issue—not a mere law enforcement agenda,” she said.

“Human rights must always rest at the core of law enforcement. We urge law enforcement officers to also coordinate with public health experts on how to better explain and ensure compliance to health safety protocols amidst the pandemic,” she added. -Joahna Lei Casilao/MDM, GMA News