BHRC seeks CHR probe into death of Moro woman from Basilan

COTABATO CITY — A Moro woman from Basilan who died after a Philippine Marine Corps cargo truck slammed into her motorcycle in Manila is now the subject of a human rights referral. The Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission (BHRC) has elevated her case to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

Calling the death of Jehan Kussin Sappari, 32, an alleged violation of the right to life by state agents, the BHRC Basilan Provincial Office said on Thursday, Oct. 15, that it wants the CHR to examine both the Oct. 10 collision and the emergency response that followed. It also proposed that the two bodies investigate jointly.

Because the incident occurred outside the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the matter falls under the CHR's jurisdiction.

"The rights of the Bangsamoro do not stop at the boundary of the region," the BHRC said.

Sappari, a radiologic technologist, was on her way to work when the truck struck the motorcycle she was riding as it stood at a stoplight, according to the BHRC. She was declared dead on arrival at Manila Doctors Hospital. She was buried in Lantawan, Basilan, the following day. The BHRC described her as her family's breadwinner and the daughter of two elderly parents.

The BHRC is also verifying claims by the family that Sappari, who wore a hijab and was gravely injured, was the last among the injured to receive attention. The commission said this would indicate discrimination if proven true.

In a statement issued on the day of the incident, the Philippine Marine Corps confirmed that a military vehicle was involved in a multi-vehicle accident at about 6:31 a.m. along Magsaysay Boulevard in Sampaloc, Manila. It said the vehicle "experienced a reported loss of braking capability," resulting in a collision with other vehicles. Several civilians and a police officer were injured.

"The Philippine Marine Corps sincerely apologizes to all those injured and to everyone inconvenienced by this incident," the statement said. It added that a thorough investigation was underway to establish the incident's root cause.

The BHRC pointed out that the Marine Corps statement acknowledged injuries and offered an apology, but did not mention that a woman had died. "The record must say that she did," it said.

According to the BHRC, the driver told police that the truck's brakes had failed. Police have referred a complaint for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide to the Office of the City Prosecutor of Manila.

The BHRC said it would stand with Sappari's family until the State accounts for the vehicle, the serviceman involved, and how Sappari was treated after the collision.