people;3 the Philippine National Police is principally tasked to ensure and maintain a peaceful and orderly environment? and, in general, the Philippine Government and all civil servants, have the primary duty to serve and protect the people.5 Thus the sponsorof the Bill poses the question: Who guards the guardians?® True, the fundamental powers ofthe Stateor thelegitimate authority vested to anyofits agencies, instrumentalities, or individual officer or personnel, cannot be exercised otherwise or in any mannerastoinfringeor injure the basicrighttolife, to dignity and toself-development ofevery individual in Philippineterritory, as well as of Filipinosin foreign lands.In the samevein, no law shouldbepassedto, once again, give license to theState to take awaylife. Second, House Bill No. 566 failed to take into account the Philippine's obligations embodiedin the international instruments on humanrights to which the Philippines is a State Party, as well as the pertinent provisions of the Philippine Constitution, and legislative enactment upholding the right to life of every human being, regardless offrontiers,political ideology oraspiration, religion, creed, sex, age, nationality, race or ethnicorigin, or social status. For this reason, the Commission on HumanRights strongly reiterates and re-affirms its commitmenttothe right to life sand calls on the Legislative Branch of Government to revisit and take serious consideration of the State obligation to respect and protect the dignity and sacrednessoflife of every humanbeing. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which has developed into a customary law,reflects the consensus of the community of nations thatit is abolitionist in outlook. The UDHR categorically states that: "Everyonehasthe rightto life, liberty and security of person."7 XXX "No oneshall be subjectedto torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment."8 OnFebruary 28, 1986, the Philippinesratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) which affirms and guaranteesthat: "Every human being hasthe inherent rightto life. This right shall be protected by law. No oneshall be arbitrarily deprivedof his life."9 "No oneshall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment...”°° XXX * Section 3, Article II, 1987 Constitution. * Section 21, Article X, 1987 Constitution * Section 4, Article II, 1987 Constitution.; Sec. 2 & 24, RA 6975 © Explanatory Note, HB 566 7 Article 3, UDHR ® Article 5, UDHR ° Article 6(1), ICCPR ® Article 7, ICCPR 4S