UN calls out PH's 'highly militarized' lockdown response

The Philippines has caught the attention (again) of the United Nations (UN) regarding the perceived repressive measures in the implementation of the quarantine protocols geared for stopping the novel coronavirus 2019 disease.

UN calls the measures taken by the Duterte government as “highly militarized response” in containing the spreading of COVID-19.

Along with the Philippines, UN also calls out the states of China, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and El Salvador as countries with alleged human rights violations in the guise of coronavirus restrictions.

ECQ violators are made to do push-ups in front of a police officer after they were caught violating the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) policies in Cotabato City last April 15, 2020.
(photo credit to PNA)

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said that police and security forces in some countries have used unnecessary force to make people abide by lockdown and curfew rules — with the victims mostly coming from the poor and vulnerable sectors.

She said force should only be used when strictly necessary and lethal force should only be carried out when there is an imminent risk to life.

"Shooting, detaining, or abusing someone for breaking a curfew because they are desperately searching for food is clearly an unacceptable and unlawful response," Bachelet said in a speech in Geneva on April 27.

The UNHR said the Philippines' "highly militarized response" to the COVID-19 pandemic with an arrest of over one hundred thousand people for violation of curfew enacted ordinances.

As of record there are around 152,000 quarantine violators have been reported nationwide following the implementation of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine(ECQ)  and other provinces in mid-March, according to recent police data. Of this number, at least 38,000 have been arrested.

"Emergency powers should not be a weapon governments can wield to quash dissent, control the population, and even perpetuate their time in power. They should be used to cope effectively with the pandemic – nothing more, nothing less," Bachelet warned

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Report from CNN Phils

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