Commission on Human Rights

Republika ng Pilipinas Komisyon ng Karapatang Pantao (Commission on Human Rights) HUMAN RIGHTS ADVISORY CHR-A2005-005 A D V I S O R Y ON T H E K I L U N G S O F M E M B E R S O F BAYAN MUNA, ANAKPAWIS, G A B R I E L L A and O T H E R A L L I E D ORGANIZATIONS No other right i s most basic, most enshrined and most fought for i n all of the international community, and at the same time most abused and exploited, than the ' * r i g h t t o Itfe, liberty a n d security o f p e r s o n s * * (Article 5 ^ . U n i v e r s a l D e c l a r a t i o n o f H u m a n Rights). T h i s right precedes from the inherent r i g h t to h u m a n dignity of every person regardless of race, sex, nationaUty and any other kind of discrimination. U n d e r Article 6 of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o n v e n t i o n o n C i v i l a n d Political Rights, Every h u m a n being h a s the inherent right t o life. This right shall b e protected b y law. N o one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life, xxx" T h e right to hfe is the supreme right from which no derogation is permitted even in time of public emergency which threatens the life of the nation (Article 4. Ibid.). T h e International H u m a n Rights Committee considers that States parties should take measures not only to prevent a n d punish deprivation of life by criminal acts, but also to p r e v e n t a r b i t r a r y k i l l i n g by t h e i r o w n s e c u r i l y forces. States parties should also take specific measures to prevent the disappearance of individuals, something which unfortunately has become all too frequent and leads too often to arbitrary deprivation of life. T h e r i g h t to life includes the right of a n individual to his body i n its completeness, free from dismemberment a n d extend to the use of God-given faculties which make life enjoyable. (Justice Malcolm, PhiUppine Constitutional Law, pp. 320-321). T h e r i g h t to liberty, on the other hand, includes "the right to exist and the right to be free from arbitrary personal restraint or deprivation." T h e Commission on H u m a n Rights, on complaints received a n d on its own, has conducted investigations relating to the systematic MHings committed against unsuspecting victims including members of B a 5 ^ n ^ ^ j a s t ^ Anak Pawis, p a b r i e l l a and other allied organizations. Ang Karapatang Pantao ay para sa lahat. C o m m o n w e a l t h Avenue, U.P. C o m p l e x , Tel. Nos. Diliman, 927-0172 • 1101, Q u e z o n 928-2018 Panindigan natin ito. City, Philippines