Senatorial bet Amirah Lidasan asks CHR to probe alleged human rights violations in Mindoro

Makabayan Coalition’s Amirah Lidasan said on Thursday that she would champion the rights of Indigenous Peoples (IP) in the country if she gets elected to the Senate. 

Lidasan made the statement after their campaign in Pola, Mindoro on Wednesday where she noted “an alarming incident of political suppression on the island.” 

“What’s happening in Mindoro reminds me of the situation in Mindanao—our communities are being bombed, displaced, and silenced,” Lidasan said, citing alleged killings and abduction of some Mangyan community members who were labeled as communist rebels. 

“This is not just a campaign stop—it’s a commitment. As a Moro and Indigenous candidate, I must reach out to marginalized communities. I am here to listen, to stand with the people, and to bring their voices to the halls of power,” she added. 

Lidasan also called on the Commission on Human Rights and the Congress to look into the human rights and international humanitarian law violations in Mindoro. 

“Congress must look into the aerial strafing and assess the long-term impact of the oil spill in the province. We call on fellow political candidates to take a stand and show support for the residents of Mindoro,” she said. 

The Makabayan Coalition on Wednesday expressed its disappointment after barangay officials in Pola allegedly prevented them from holding campaign sorties in the town. Aside from Lidasan, also part of the sortie were other senatorial bets Liza Maza, Ronnel Arambulo, Mimi Doringo, and ACT-Teacher’s party-list Representative France Castro. 

Lidasan earlier said that she would also push for the protection of rights in ancestral domain and wants “genuine autonomy” in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/LDF, GMA Integrated News

For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.