The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has condemned the reported election-related violent incidents which mostly took place in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) during last May 9 elections.
"These incidences of shootings, strafing, and use of explosive device not only seek to sow fear and discord on the day of elections but also mar the credibility of the elections," CHR Spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia said in a statement.
The CHR urges law enforcement officials to conduct follow-up operations on the individuals responsible so that they may be held accountable for their crimes.
De Guia, a lawyer, said the CHR was able to track down the incidents through its “Bantay Karapatan sa Halalan” campaign, which also noted injuries and deaths, vote-buying and electioneering, failure of elections due to deliberate destruction of vote-counting machines (VCMs), and VCM malfunctions resulting in individuals unable to cast their votes.
"In ensuring the credibility of the elections, the Commission on Elections has the utmost responsibility to explain to the Filipino citizenry the reasons for multiple and numerous VCM malfunctions and delay in of arrival of secure digital cards; provide countermeasures to ensure non-recurrence of these problems in the next elections," de Guia stressed.
Despite the incidents, the CHR is pleased to witness how millions of Filipinos trooped to their polling precincts last Monday to exercise their right to vote despite the pandemic restrictions.
Even the elderly, persons with disabilities (PWDs), indigenous peoples, and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) exercised their right to suffrage. "We laud these people for standing up and exercising their rights as responsible citizens," De Guia said.
"Such is the power of the vote as it determines the country’s next set of leaders in the succeeding years who shape the country’s policies and ultimately its future," she said.
As Filipinos await the official results and canvassing of the electoral votes, the CHR has called for vigilance in protecting the outcome of the election.
De Guia also said: "With conviction, CHR dissuades any individual or groups from intimidating volunteers and those involved in the parallel count of electoral returns. These are important processes that ensure legitimacy of elections and part of a normal functioning democracy. In safeguarding the sanctity of the vote, CHR urges citizens to respect and honor procedures that ensure its transparency."
For its part, the CHR has assured the citizenry that it will continue its mandate to protect and promote human rights regardless of the election outcome, she added.