The Commission on Human Rights on Monday slammed police and village officials in Malabon City for alleged violation on the human rights of a 13-year-old boy who was arrested for not wearing a mask.
Lawyer-spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia said law enforcers and barangay leaders are duty-bound to protect the rights of the children.
“Government officials and its officers should be the first ones to protect the welfare of children, not violate them,” she said.
The CHR said it will conduct its own probe.
On Sept. 26, the teenage boy was arrested and penalized, and that his mug shot was taken for not wearing a mask when crossing to their house coming from his neighbor’s place.
De Guia said that after capturing the joy’s mugs hot, the police supposedly told the minor that “he now has a profile picture for his Facebook account.”
The police’s gesture caused distress to the boy, she said.
“It is concerning that this happened despite the prohibition on the arrests of minors as stated in the joint memorandum circular entitled Reiteration of Protocols on Reaching out to Children, including those in Street Situations, in need of Special Protection, Children at Risk, and Children in Conflict with the Law During the Enhanced Community Quarantine issued by the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Council on the Welfare of Children,” she said.
Minors guilty of violating quarantine rules must be turned over to their parents, guardians or a social worker for proper interventions, guidance and advice.
“We welcome the remarks of Joint Task Force Covid-19 Shield Commander Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar reminding the police force and barangay law enforcers to not penalize minors for quarantine violations,” De Guia said.
“We also note the apology and actions done by the barangay chairman in acknowledgment of the harm done,” she said.
Those who could have violated the boy’s human rights must still be sanctioned or suffer disciplinary actions to avoid a repeat of such violation on any minor, she said.
Any form of punishment that humiliates and degrades the dignity of minors is violative of the sworn obligation of a government official, she added.
“Children are part that of the vulnerable sectors and should be protected during normal times, but more so during this period of crisis as they bear the brunt of the secondary effects and the measures taken to combat the coronavirus disease 2019,” she said.