Going beyond biases

ON February 16, 2015, the Ateneo Human Rights Center and the Committee on Human Rights of the House of Representatives held a forum on the planned creation of the Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission.

The creation of the body is contained in the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, the discussions for which was suspended by both the House of Representatives and the Senate after the Mamasapano incident on January 25, 2015 in the province of Maguindanao.

Forty-four members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force, 18 Moro Islamic Liberation front fighters, and five civilians died in the police-led operations codenamed Oplan Exodus. It aimed to kill or capture two foreign bombmakers declared as terrorists by the United States government.

THERE is a need to go beyond biases, says CHR chair Loretta Ann P. Rosales, left, during a forum held on February 16, 2015. Also in photo are lawyers Raissa Jajurie and Mohammad Al-amin Julkipli, both members of the legal team of the GPH panel in talks with the MILF | Photo by Ghessa

In this video short produced by PCIJ deputy producer Cong B. Corrales, resource persons took turns stressing the need for a separate body that will uphold and protect human rights in the Bangsamoro.

Commission on Human Rights chair Loretta Ann P. Rosales pointed out the need to rethink perceptions about the Moro people because these “distorted reflections” indicate a lack of knowledge and information, prejudices and biases against them.

View the video to see more about the forum. Let us know what you think. Your comments and suggestions are welcome on our comments box below.

Happy weekend!