Amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the Commission on Human Rights on Tuesday said the government respects the religious and cultural rights of Muslim Filipinos.
Jacqueline Ann de Guia, CHR lawyer-spokesperson, said the agency recognizes the religious exemptions given by the interagency task force to Muslim COVID-19 victims, "which primarily pertain to exemptions from cremation."
"This reflects the respect accorded to their religion and culture," she noted.
"We hope that this consideration already extends to all other Muslim religious and cultural considerations such as food preference, prayer rituals, among others," she said.
She said an inclusive approach to the pandemic is essential to be able to heal as one. "The different religion, cultural groups, and regional context in our country entail specific response and considerations," she said.
"In this way, we can continue to honor the dignity and unique identities of our fellow Filipinos while protecting their health and safety," she added.
She urged the government to ensure that its citizens could exercise their religious and cultural rights to the extent possible.
She said the Muslim community is among those facing multiple vulnerabilities amid the disease.
"The current health crisis amplify their vulnerability given that they are a religious minority; their region is beset with frequent conflict and displacement, and they are still in the process of healing from the vestiges of historical injustices," she said.
The armed conflict between government troops and armed rebel groups had displaced at least 98 percent of Marawi City's population in Lanao del Sur in 2017.
"In Marawi and certain areas in Mindanao where many Muslims still reside in evacuation centers, there is a need to address the crowded and fragile living arrangement,' De Guia said.
"We urge the government to ensure special attention is provided to them considering the difficulties they may encounter in terms of access to health services and relief assistance, which are readily available to general population," she said.
De Guia called on the government to provide the people there with access to nutrition, sufficient food supply, potable water, sanitation facilities, health-care and adequate shelter "considering the rapid increase of COVID-19 cases."
"It is also crucial to diligently conduct contact tracing and monitoring of surviving kin of COVID-19 victims given the greater vulnerability in evacuation centers," she said.
Muslim front liners and others belonging to humanitarian organizations "who risk their health and safety also need to be provided with protective clothing and equipment, sufficient support and due compensation," she added.