Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission - Basilan

The Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission (BHRC), through its Basilan Provincial Office, distributed financial assistance amounting to Four Hundred Ninety Six Thousand Pesos (P496,000.00) to thirty two (32) qualified beneficiaries under its Financial Assistance Program. The release was made during a solemn and simple ceremonial turnover held at the BHRC Basilan Provincial Office.

The release of the financial assistance was made pursuant to the mandate of the Commission under Article VI of Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 4, otherwise known as the Bangsamoro Human Rights Act of 2019, and in accordance with the Guidelines on the Grant of Financial and Legal Assistance to Victims of Human Rights Violations and Abuses adopted by the Commission. Under these issuances, the BHRC is empowered to extend, in the course or as a result of its investigation, financial and legal assistance to qualified beneficiaries whose complaints have been given due course.

The thirty two (32) qualified beneficiaries are individuals and families whose complaints are currently being investigated by the BHRC Basilan Provincial Office. The complaints covered by the present release include allegations of torture, wrongful arrest and arbitrary detention, domestic abuse falling within the scope of Republic Act No. 9262 or the Anti Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004, and other allegations of human rights violations and abuses within the jurisdiction of the Commission. The grant of financial assistance at this stage is without prejudice to the final resolution of the complaints and is not a determination of the merits of the cases or of the liability of any person.

The financial assistance is intended to cushion the economic impact borne by the qualified beneficiaries and their families pending the investigation and resolution of their complaints. It is designed to shoulder, in part, the losses and injuries they have sustained, including expenses related to medical treatment, recovery, displacement, and other consequential damages associated with the incidents that gave rise to their complaints. The amount received by each qualified beneficiary was determined based on the nature and gravity of the allegations, the documented losses and injuries, and the applicable parameters set forth in the Commission's guidelines.

The BHRC Basilan Provincial Office reiterates that the Financial Assistance Program is one of the flagship programs of the Commission as part of its constitutional and statutory mandate to promote, protect, and fulfill human rights in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The grant of financial assistance forms part of the Commission's complainant centered approach and complements its other functions of investigation, monitoring, legal assistance, and human rights education.
The Provincial Office assured the qualified beneficiaries and the public that it will continue to receive, investigate, and act upon complaints of human rights violations and abuses within its area of jurisdiction. Other qualified complainants and their families whose cases are currently under investigation may be considered for assistance in subsequent releases, subject to the availability of funds and compliance with the requirements of the Commission's guidelines.

The BHRC Basilan Provincial Office is headed by Provincial Director Atty. Alman Najar Namla. The Commission, at the regional level, is led by Chairperson Atty. Abdul Rashid P. Kalim.

Persons who believe that their human rights or those of their immediate family members have been violated may file complaints and seek assistance from the BHRC Basilan Provincial Office, or from any other Provincial Office of the Commission within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

𝗕𝗛𝗥𝗖 𝗕𝗔𝗦𝗜𝗟𝗔𝗡 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧

Ang Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission Basilan Provincial Office ay buong pusong sumusuporta sa 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗴𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗹𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘄𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗡𝗼. 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲-𝟮𝟮 na inakda ni Hon. BM Atty. Faigdar A. Jaafar, na humihiling sa PNP Chief at sa PRO-BAR Regional Director para sa permanenteng pagtatalaga ng 𝗣𝗡𝗣 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿 sa Basilan Police Provincial Office.

𝗕𝗮𝗸𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲?

Marami sa mga reklamo ng human rights violations na natatanggap namin ay hindi nagsisimula bilang sadyang pang-aabuso. Nagsisimula ang mga ito bilang operational decisions na ginawa sa ilalim ng oras na pressure, sa mga malalayong barangay, ng mga pulis na walang agad na access sa abogado.

Ang resident PNP Legal Officer ay naglalagay ng legal advice sa 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, hindi pagkatapos na may nasaktan na, may na-areglo na, o may karapatang nilabag na. Ito ay 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, hindi remediation.

Ang proteksyon ng karapatang pantao at ang pagpapanatili ng kapayapaan at kaayusan ay hindi magkasalungat. Sila ay magkasamang haligi ng tunay na paglilingkod sa bayan.