CHR seeks public health, not military approach in COVID-19 fight

ABS-CBN News

<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BJyYjf4JbMQ?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>MANILA - The Commission on Human Rights said Monday government should fight the COVID-19 pandemic using a public health approach instead of a military mindset.The CHR so far received some 250 complaints from the public covering arrests, punishment and distribution of relief goods and cash aid, according to its spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia.&quot;Ang general rule sana ang ipatupad ng pamahalaan is not employing a military approach but a humanitarian approach. Dapat nilang maalala na hindi ito peace and order measure kundi health measure,&quot; she told radio DZMM, adding that the commission supports government&#x27;s strict implementation of the enhanced community quarantine.(We hope the general rule will be to employ not a military approach but a humanitarian approach. We must remember that this is not a peace and order measure, but a health measure.)&quot;Yung kalaban naman ay hindi armado, kung hindi isang disease at public in general na hindi naman armed.&quot;(We are fighting a disease, not armed men and the public in general are unarmed.)<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/24/20/duterte-says-might-declare-martial-law-if-npa-attacks-continue">Duterte says &#x27;might declare martial law&#x27; if NPA attacks continue</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/19/20/we-are-not-at-war-rights-advocates-push-back-vs-militaristic-approach-in-covid-19-fight">‘We are not at war:’ Rights advocates push back vs ‘militaristic’ approach in COVID-19 fight</a></li></ul>Punishment should be commensurate to the offense and authorities cannot &quot;invent&quot; penalties that are outside the law and the Constitution, which prohibits torture and inhumane forms of punishment, she said.The commission is also looking into a policeman&#x27;s fatal shooting of former soldier Winston Ragos near a quarantine checkpoint in Quezon City last week.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/23/20/chr-probes-cops-shooting-of-ex-soldier-reminds-police-of-rules-on-use-of-force">CHR probes cop&#x27;s shooting of ex-soldier; reminds police of rules on use of force</a></li></ul>The CHR is investigating if the use of force was necessary in the incident.&quot;Was it really necessary to use a gun whereas the victim did not have with him visibly a gun nor was it pointed to the policemen, therefore asking was there really an actual danger,&quot; she said.&quot;&#x27;Yung ratio ng pulis vs victim implies already that they have superior strength. Could they not have subdued the victim instead, and couldn’t they have shot the victim at a non-fatal part and instead disarm him rather than firing fatal shot?&quot;

The Commission on Human Rights on Monday reminded government to implement a public health approach and not a military one in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Commission on Human Rights on Monday reminded government to implement a public health approach and not a military one in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.

CHR seeks public health, not military approach in COVID-19 fight | ABS-CBN

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CHR seeks public health, not military approach in COVID-19 fight

CHR seeks public health, not military approach in COVID-19 fight

ABS-CBN News

Published Apr 27, 2020 04:51 PM PHT

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Updated Apr 27, 2020 05:07 PM PHT

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DZMM

CHR

Commission on Human Rights

Jacqueline de Guia

Luzon lockdown

Luzon quarantine

COVID-19

coronavirus

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