CHR mobilizes own team to probe 'horrific' deaths of senior citizens, minors
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has decided to conduct its own investigations on what it called as "horrific crimes" committed against senior citizens, a person with disability (PWD), and two minors over the past few weeks.
Citing reports, the CHR said the first incident happened in Manila last Aug. 26 when a seven-year-old girl was beaten to death by her father after she failed to return some money. Before the minor died, she said that her father had been violent against her and her mother.
The second incident involved a senior citizen who was also a PWD and took place on Sept. 7 in Barangay Kaligayahan in Quezon City. Marcelino Lacsamana, 61, was stabbed to death by his caregiver, who is also the relative of his partner. The police are currently investigating the motive behind the killing of Lacsamana.
The third incident on the other hand, took place on Sept. 12 in Lima, Bataan where two female senior citizens -- Rosita Lobaton, 70, and Marie Sampang, 60 -- were found dead with stab wounds, together with an 11-year-old girl. Initial reports said that the killings were perpetrated by the live-in-partner of Sampang, who got upset after she broke up with him and evicted him from her house.
In a statement, the CHR said: "We express vehement condemnation on these latest cases of violence that trample upon the right to life and safety of the cited vulnerable individuals. It is most concerning that the crimes were committed in the comfort of their own homes and the alleged perpetrators are those close to the victims. We expect exhaustive efforts from local authorities in ensuring justice for the victims and to ascertain accountability of perpetrators."
It said that while it recognized the efforts of concerned local government units in securing justice for the victims, the CHR's own team will coordinate closely with the agencies involved to aid in the just resolution of these cases.
It reiterated that the protection and safety of vulnerable sectors is a multisectoral responsibility that requires the proactive efforts of the government as well as the cooperation of families and communities.
"These horrific crimes remind us of the need to be consistently vigilant in looking after the rights and welfare of the most vulnerable members of our society," it said.