The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has expressed its concern on the condition of two pregnant “members” of the New People’s Army (NPA) allegedly abducted by Philippine Army (PA) soldiers in Butuan City on Nov. 3, 2022.
It said it had decided to conduct its own probe since published reports last Jan. 10 stated that the two women, identified as Aurily Havana and Jennifer Binugkasan, actually surrendered to Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (MTF-ELCAC) in Las Nieves town in Agusan del Norte with two other rebels.
The same published reports, the CHR said, stated that town officials provided the pregnant women with medical attention, as well as food packs and livelihood assistance in line with the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) to former rebels.
The CHR said that as its probe is ascertaining the veracity of the two conflicting reports, “we stress that regardless of a person's sex, gender, political affiliation, or any status, all humans are entitled of their rights.”
“Enforced disappearance or the arrest, detention, abduction, or any form of deprivation of liberty carried out by agents of the State or by persons or groups acting with the authorization, support, or acquiescence of the State, with following refusal to acknowledge the deprivation of liberty, is a serious human rights violation,” it said.
It pointed out that while the Philippines has yet to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances, “Republic Act No. 10353, the Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act of 2012, already crimininalizes this practice, thus making enforced and involuntary disappearances punishable by law.”
It then said: “We reiterate our stance against armed violence. At the same time, as we continue to seek a more durable solution in achieving peace, respect for human rights is a constant, non-negotiable value that all sides—government and rebels alike—should always uphold.”
TAGS: #CHR #Human rights #NPA ‘pregnant members’