EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This situationer report covers the period, January to June 2020. The objective of which is to present a view of the human rights situation in the region giving special attention to the effect to the human rights of the Cordillera people of the coronavirus pandemic and the impositon of quarantine and other measures and responses provided by the government. This report provides an overview of the situation and concerns of certain vulnerable sectors and the human rights violations investigated by this office. It aims to shed light on the progress of human rights situation in the region and to influence future policy and programme interventions for the vulnerable sectors. CHR-Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) Office received 62 complaints. 35 of which were docketed as Other Legal Services while 27 were docketed as regular cases for investigation. The Office received 163 complaints for 2019 1st semester and 92 complaints for 2019 2nd semester. Hence, there is an observed decrease in the number of complaints received for 2020 1st semester when compared to the two semesters immediately preceding it. There is, however, an observed increase when it comes to regular cases for investigation which is from 18 for the 2nd semester of 2019 to 27 for 2020 1st semester or with an increase of 9 cases. The highest Human Rights Violation (HRV) cases received for the 2020 1st semester is Discrimination on Account of Political Belief or Opinion which all concerns red-tagging with eight (8) cases received. The second leading HRV case is Arbitrary Deprivation of Life (ADL) or EJKs which are not drug-related with 7 cases received. The third is Violation of the Rights of the Child with five (5) cases received and the fourth is Drug-related EJK cases with four (4 ) cases received. The other three (3) cases are Violation of the Right Against Torture, Violation of the Rights to Liberty and Violation Against Unlawful Search, and Attack on Honor and Reputation. The victims in the 8 cases of red-tagging are all human rights defenders and are part of organizations which advocates civil and political rights. Three (3) of the cases involves personnel from the media who are members of progressive groups as well. Four (4) of the cases involves youth groups which are actively campaigning for civil and political rights. One case involves civil society organization advocating for indigenous peoples’ rights. Another case involves a person who was linked to the CPP NPA due to his personal relationship with an alleged top leader of the CPP NPA. As was observed, these organizations are critical to the Duterte Administration’s crackdown on illegal drugs and are calling for transparency on the government expenses especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. They were, however, tagged as NPA or communist supporters, sympathizers, and recruiters. 4Page CHR CAR REGIONAL HR SITUATION REPORT – JANUARY to JUNE 2020