Philippines
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CHR assails 'surveillance, profiling'
of Anakbayan members, activists
CHR assails 'surveillance, profiling' of Anakbayan members, activists
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has raised “serious alarm” over the reported violations of the right to privacy of Anakbayan members and other activists who have been allegedly subjected to surveillance and profiling by law enforcers.
"Profiling or data collection encroaches upon the right to privacy of citizens under the Bill of Rights of the Philippine Constitution and is an abuse of power bereft of legal basis,” the CHR said in a statement.
“We reiterate our fervent ca
It said it received reports of a breach incident at the Anakbayan’s Manila office last Jan. 18. It said the group presented a closed-circuit television video that shows a man peering into the window of their office for a minute and a half. Eventually, Anakbayan members said they found their office disorganized with signs of forced entry.
Earlier last Jan. 16, Anakbayan members said they noticed the unusual presence of multiple police vehicles near their national office, the CHR said.
It also said that Anakbayan members reported separate incidents of unidentified men allegedly “tailing them and taking their pictures” after protests around Metro Manila.
Student members from various schools and universities also reported continued red-tagging incidents by the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the CHR noted.
The CHR said: "These allegations of intrusion into a person’s right to privacy by means of surveillance must not be taken lightly. CHR has taken cognizance of this case for investigation."
It said that while it is in the process of probing the incidents, it urged the government -- particularly its law enforcement arm to also conduct its own probe regarding the matter.
It warned that the recent events, including the alleged abduction of labor advocates Dyan Gumanao and Armand Dayoha, “unfortunately create a culture of fear and normalized violence in society.”
“These must be stopped as they violate the people's freedom of speech, expression, association, and the right to petition the government for redress of grievances,” it stressed.
"CHR reminds all that as long as dissenters’ actions do not run contrary to our Constitution and other laws, their collective rights must be respected and upheld," it said.
TAGS: #CHR #Anakbayan #Profiling of activists