Rising death toll of teens not isolated cases — CHR
Relatives and classmates of teenager Carl Arnaiz, who was shot and killed after he allegedly robbed a taxi driver at gunpoint on August 17, attend mass ahead of Arnaiz's burial at the Mater Dolorosa Parish in Manila on September 5, 2017. AFP/Noel Celis
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights on Friday called on the government to take concrete actions following the rising death toll of teens and minors in the country.
The commission stressed that recent reports of youth killings are not mere "isolated cases."
"The recent killing of Kian delos Santos, 17; Carl Angelo Arnaiz,19; Reynaldo de Guzman, 14; Raymart Siapo, 19; and Grace Omadlao, 16, raises serious concerns on the quality of protection that the government extends to our children," the CHR said in a statement.
The rights of children, even those who are accused of crimes, must be consistently upheld and protected, the agency said.
The CHR cited the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 which requires the State to "apply the principles of restorative justice in all its laws, policies and programs applicable to children in conflict with the law."
The agency also expressed concern for children who are being exposed to police operations against illegal drugs as it affects their psychological development.
"Exposure to conflict and violence related to the illegal drugs trade, as studies show, impacts children's psychological development due to the significant correlation between living in violent surroundings and aggression and rule-breaking," the statement.
As party to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Philippines has the obligations "take all appropriate measures, including legislative, administrative, social and educational measures, to protect children from the illicit use of narcotics drugs and psychotropic substances as defined in the relevant international treaties, and to prevent the use of children in the illicit production and trafficking of such substances."
The CHR has sent teams from its NCR and Region III offices to conduct motu proprio investigations on the reported killings of teens and minors in the country.
The agency is looking forward to the cooperation of the Philippine National Police and related government agencies in seeking justice for these deaths.
"We support the vision of the government's drug campaign against illegal frugs to provide a better future for our children, but for whom are we doing this drive if they are all gone?" the CHR said.
Meanwhile, the Senate Committee on Public Order and Illegal Drugs has opened an inquiry into the killing of Delos Santos.
Members of the Caloocan police, who were seen by witnesses the night Delos Santos was killed, invoked their right to silence when questioned by senators regarding the death of Delos Santos.
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