Fear of rising HR violations after elections raised

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines  â€” An official of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) office in Negros Oriental has expressed concern of a possible increase in human rights violations this year after receiving reports of a tense political rivalry among local candidates, especially in the gubernatorial race.

CHR field investigator Jess Cañete said that like in the past elections, supporters of losing candidates ran to his office, and not to the Comelec, to file human rights violation complaints against winning candidates.

This early, a number of reports have reached his office that leaders of certain politicians have been enticing and, at some point, forcing people to sign a piece of paper to make it appear they are already supporters of a particular political party. This, in effect, taking away a person’s right to secrecy of his chosen candidate.

Cañete warned politicians against employing what he believes as vindictiveness of winning candidates in running after individuals who refused to support them in the elections. 

He called on them to stop the old practice of “no vote, ibot”, such as cutting water lines and electricity, denying financial and medical assistance to supporters of losing candidates, with the vindictiveness of making the lives of the latter uncomfortable.

Cañete enjoined all candidates, both winners and losers, to observe the sanctity of the ballot by every voter who is just exercising his or her freedom of choice.

Any act of vindictiveness will be a mockery of the right of suffrage, which is enshrined in the Constitution. “Let us try to make Negros Oriental different from the rest of the country,” he told The Freeman.

Meanwhile, former NORSU president Henry Sojor who is a candidate for vice governor, lauded efforts of the Diocesan Electoral Board in spearheading an activity aimed at achieving Clean, Honest, Accurate, Meaningful and Peaceful (CHAMP) elections.

He however said that it would have been more meaningful if barkers of candidates were also asked to sign a pledge of commitment to strictly follow the standards of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkasters sa Pilipinas, and not to resort to maligning candidates instead of sticking to issues beneficial to the public.

Sojor, runningmate of reelectionist Gov. Roel Degamo of PDP-Laban, observed that, at times, radio blocktimers have been quarrelling on air while the candidates they were representing have been talking to one another. (FREEMAN)