MANILA, Philippines — Policies that impact on human rights should not be implemented simply because they are popular with the public, Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chairman Chito Gascon said in reaction to survey results showing high public’s approval for the government’s war against illegal drugs. Gascon stressed that the high public approval will not stop the CHR from calling for investigations on the thousands of deaths related to police anti-drug operations. “But this does not and cannot constitute a license to run roughshod on the Bill of Rights and the rule of law as human rights are too important to be subjected to a popularity contest.”A recent SWS survey showed 78 percent of Filipinos supporting the war on drugs. It also showed that 60 percent believe that the arrests of tambays or loiterers constitute human rights violations. However, she stressed, this support is qualified by issues relating to how the government implements its anti-illegal drug campaign.

Source: Philippine Star September 25, 2018 15:56 UTC