2020 Annual Report on the Human Rights Situation in the Philippines 5 State agents killed 42 suspects during the lockdown from 15 March to 05 May 2020. Similarly, the CHR documented 69 alleged extrajudicial killings (EJKs) done during the lockdown. To facilitate the investigation and prosecution of the unlawful killings and any other human rights violations, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the CHR entered into a data-sharing agreement (DSA) to further strengthen the mandate of Administrative Order No. 35 (A.O. 35), which created an inter-agency committee on EJKs, enforced disappearances, torture, and other grave violations of the right to life, liberty, and security of persons. Grave human rights violations, other than killings, were also documented by the different CHR offices. Cases of torture, enforced disappearances, and arbitrary arrests were docketed this year. Arbitrary arrest cases were particularly worrying as some were combined with cruel forms of incarceration being in place. A key pillar for enjoyment of civil rights is the right to information. This is essential in times of public emergencies necessitating derogation of certain civil and political rights. The decision of Congress to deny the renewal of the legislative franchise of ABS-CBN at a critical time when the lack of information dissemination could have serious consequences for the pandemic response of the poor and the marginalized sector. The CHR provides a set of recommendations to improve the human rights situation in the country. Duty-bearers that bear a responsibility for COVID-19 response have been identified. Inputs for ensuring that the right to health is fully protected have been provided. Several suggestions for strengthening social amelioration programs to make it more equitable are also contained in this report. The CHR also calls for better humanitarian assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs) displaced by natural calamities.