43.Wereiterate the Commission's previous Advisories on the Abolition of Death
Penalty;53 Humanrights should not be perceived as something evil or useless,
nor should it be seen as an impedimentto achieving peace and orderin the
country. Humanrights is in fact an effective tool in guaranteeing the safety
andsecurityof the people. We hopeto enlighten our governmentleaders and
the public that humanrights could be the solution to the problems that we
are all facing in.
44. We take note of the government's determination in resolving the ills of
society and share with its desire to achieve sustainable peace in the nation.
But we wish to emphasizethat the attainmentofits goals must be built upon
respect and promotion of humanrights. The basic dignity of human being
whichis the protectionof right to life is a question that transcendsreligious,
political and even personal opinion. We appeal to the good sense of
discernmentof all our governmentleaders to safeguard the dignity of every
human person by upholding the right to life, in the fulfillment of their
mandates and not to be swayed bypublic sentiments as humanrights are
independent of public opinion. Likewise, we encourage the public to keep
themselves abreast of matters affecting human rights so they can make
informed and intelligent choices and avoid being victims of avertable
circumstances.
Issuedthis 7day of November2016, QuezonCity, Philippines
(originally signed)
JOSE LUIS MARTIN C. GASCON
Chairperson
(originally signed)
KAREN S. GOMEZ DUMPIT
Commissioner
(originally signed)
LEAH C. TANODRA-ARMAMENTO
Commissioner
(originally signed)
GWENDOLYN L.L. PEMENTEL-GANA
Commissioner
(originally signed)
ROBERTO EUGENIO T. CADIZ
Commissioner
* CHR Human Rights Advisoryon the Abolition of Death Penalty, CHR-A2005-004, 22 March 2005: CHR.
Human Rights Advisory on the Abolition of the Death Penalty Law, CHR-A 15-2000, 19 December 2000:
CUR Human Rights Advisory on Death Penalty for Minors, CHR-A-02-99, 13 September 1999; and
Resolution CHR No. A91-033, 8 August 1991