Photo by Michael Camsa/BIO
COTABATO CITY —Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission (BHRC) gave financial assistance to the families of victims of human rights violations and abuses on Tuesday, Feb 14.
Each family received Php30,000.00 from the Commission’s Human Rights Protection Division to help cushion the economic impact of such violations and abuses on the affected families.
BHRC Chairperson Atty. Abdul Rashid Kalim assured the families of victims that the Bangsamoro Government is committed to pursuing fair investigation to achieve justice.
“Habang andito po ang BHRC at ang Bangsamoro Government ay hindi namin kayo pababayaan, gagawin po namin ang lahat ng aming makakaya, kaya naman ang hinihiling namin ay magtulungan tayo,” Kalim said.
“Kahit kayo ay naninirahan sa labas ng Bangsamoro region ay aalalayan namin kayo para makamit ang hustisya. Gaya po ng utos ng Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim na tutulungan po namin kayo kahit saan kayo naroroon sa Pilipinas,” he added.
Meanwhile, Jawwada Macatangcop, BHRC’s Special Investigator III, BHRC’s program is an important step in promoting and protecting human rights in the region and assisting those who have experienced such violations and abuses ”to always uphold the dignity of every human person”.
Accordingly, BHRC has also engaged the services of private lawyers to represent or provide legal services to the victims, regardless of whether the cases are being heard inside or outside the BARMM.
Meanwhile, the father of one of the victims also expressed his gratitude for the full support coming from different government agencies, including the Bangsamoro Government, who stand with them in pursuing fair investigation and justice. [The identities of the victims and their families are concealed for confidentiality and security reasons]
“Sa ngayon, tuluy-tuloy pa rin po ang investigations kasama ang iba’t-ibang government agencies kaya nagpapasalamat kami dahil nakikita namin na sobra-sobra po ang kanilang tulong. Lalo na ang Bangsamoro Government na kahit nasa labas kami ng jurisdiction ng region ay andyan pa rin sila para tumulong na sa patas na investigations para mapadali na makamit ang justice,” beneficiaries said.
“Sa simula pa lamang ay ramdam na namin ang tulong na nagmumula sa BARMM, at maliban sa pagtulong sa mabilisang pagresolba ng kaso ay nariyan din sila upang mabigyan kami ng financial assistance kung saan malaking tulong po sa amin,” he further added. (Johaira Sahidala/BIO)
