By Calvin Cordova
CEBU CITY—The Commission on Human Rights office in Central Visayas (CHR 7) expressed concern over President Duterte’s warning that the war on drugs will remain “as relentless and chilling.”
CHR Regional Director Arvin Odron said the conduct of the campaign against illegal drugs should be within the bounds of the law.
“Universal human rights standards prohibit the use of lethal force in law enforcement, except as a last resort and only when non-violent means become less effective,” Odron stressed.
In his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) last Monday, the President warned that the intensified campaign against illegal drugs will continue.
“We are deeply concerned about the recent pronouncement made by the President during his 3rd SONA that the illegal drug war of his administration will be relentless and chilling amidst the CHR's continuous condemnation on the rising incidents of criminalities brought about by the illegal use of prohibited drugs and substances,” Odron said.
Thousands have been killed since the assumption of Duterte, whose one of top campaign promises was to end the drug menace in the country.
In Central Visayas, 195 drug suspects have died in anti-drug operations since July 2016, while 213 were killed by unknown assailants.
With the stepped up drive yielding thousands of casualties, Odron vowed that CHR 7 will continue to monitor to ensure human rights are not violated.
“The CHR as the official national human rights institution mandated to monitor the State's compliance with human rights standards pursuant to the 1991 Paris Principles, relentlessly monitors and criticizes the present administration against its bloody war against illegal drugs as these killings amount to an EJK (extra judicial killing),” Odron said.
“We all know that the State has all the powers, but we demand that the powers be exercised in accordance with the limitations set by law, hence, we continuously advocate on respect for human rights and faithful observance of the rule of law. We know the good intention of the government, that is to eradicate the menace brought about by illegal use of drugs, but however good and praiseworthy the intention of the government, if it does not conform and comply with the dictates of the Constitution and the law, the problem will persist,” Odron said.
He criticized the President for saying that he is more concerned with human lives than with human rights.
“The President failed to appreciate that human rights and the right to life are not exclusive of each other but rather both exist as interdependent natural rights and complement each other. When the CHR advocates for the respect and protection of human rights, it includes a call from the government to likewise respect and protect the inherent right of all the people to life without distinction,” Odron said.
CHR Regional Director Arvin Odron said the conduct of the campaign against illegal drugs should be within the bounds of the law.
“Universal human rights standards prohibit the use of lethal force in law enforcement, except as a last resort and only when non-violent means become less effective,” Odron stressed.
In his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) last Monday, the President warned that the intensified campaign against illegal drugs will continue.
“We are deeply concerned about the recent pronouncement made by the President during his 3rd SONA that the illegal drug war of his administration will be relentless and chilling amidst the CHR's continuous condemnation on the rising incidents of criminalities brought about by the illegal use of prohibited drugs and substances,” Odron said.
Thousands have been killed since the assumption of Duterte, whose one of top campaign promises was to end the drug menace in the country.
In Central Visayas, 195 drug suspects have died in anti-drug operations since July 2016, while 213 were killed by unknown assailants.
With the stepped up drive yielding thousands of casualties, Odron vowed that CHR 7 will continue to monitor to ensure human rights are not violated.
“The CHR as the official national human rights institution mandated to monitor the State's compliance with human rights standards pursuant to the 1991 Paris Principles, relentlessly monitors and criticizes the present administration against its bloody war against illegal drugs as these killings amount to an EJK (extra judicial killing),” Odron said.
“We all know that the State has all the powers, but we demand that the powers be exercised in accordance with the limitations set by law, hence, we continuously advocate on respect for human rights and faithful observance of the rule of law. We know the good intention of the government, that is to eradicate the menace brought about by illegal use of drugs, but however good and praiseworthy the intention of the government, if it does not conform and comply with the dictates of the Constitution and the law, the problem will persist,” Odron said.
He criticized the President for saying that he is more concerned with human lives than with human rights.
“The President failed to appreciate that human rights and the right to life are not exclusive of each other but rather both exist as interdependent natural rights and complement each other. When the CHR advocates for the respect and protection of human rights, it includes a call from the government to likewise respect and protect the inherent right of all the people to life without distinction,” Odron said.