The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has expressed concern over the increasing number of deaths of teens in the country.

In a statement Friday, CHR said the rising figures of teen deaths meant the cases were no longer "isolated" and deserved concrete actions from government.

• READ: Isolated? Kian is 54th minor killed in drug war, says children's rights group

"Whatever the reason may be, one death is still too many. The recent killing of Kian delos Santos, 17; Carl Angelo Arnaiz, 19; Reynaldo de Guzman, 14; Raymart Siapo, 19; and Grace Omadlao, 16, raises serious concerns on the quality of protection that the government extends to our children," the CHR said.

"The Commission stands that the rights of our children—even the accused and adjudged for crimes, but most especially the innocent—must be consistently upheld and protected. Rights should never be sacrificed in the drive against criminality and should never be shrugged off when convenient," it added.

Policemen from the Caloocan City Police have been tagged in the separate deaths of Delos Santos, Arnaiz and de Guzman.

Delos Santos, whom police tagged as a drug runner, was dragged from his store in Caloocan and shot dead by cops on August 16.

Arnaiz and de Guzman, both from Cainta in Rizal, were last seen together on August 17. Arnaiz's body was found 10 days after the teen went missing.

Police said Arnaiz tried to rob a taxi and was shot when he allegedly resisted arrest.

On September 6, the body believed to be De Guzman's was found in Gapan, Nueva Ecija. The body bore multiple stab wounds and the head wrapped in tape.

• READ: Murder, torture raps filed against cops, cabbie in Arnaiz, De Guzman slays

Omadlao, meanwhile was a rape-slay victim from Pasig City. The four men tagged in her death last September 4 have been arrested by police days after her body was found.

Back in April, 19-year old Siapo was shot dead after he was abducted by a group of men in Navotas.

Recently, the decomposing body of Michael Angelo Remecio, 16, was found in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.

The Commission emphasized the responsibility of the State as cited in the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 that it is required to "apply the principles of restorative justice in all its laws, policies and programs applicable to children in conflict with the law.”

"Death is never an appropriate response," it stated.

The CHR has dispatched its investigation offices from the National Capital Region and Region III to conduct motu propio probes on the killings of teens and minors across the country.

"We look forward to the commitment of cooperation of the Philippine National Police and other related government agencies in seeking out the truth concerning these deaths. We strongly believe that it is only through openness and transparency that we can achieve justice for these killings," it said.

While they support the government's drive against illegal drugs to provide a better future for children, "but for whom are we doing this drive if they are all gone?"

"Our children deserve better treatment. They ought to be given food and nourishment, not bullets in their bodies; they should be resting on clean, safe shelters, not lying cold in the streets; they need care and protection, not a life of violence. It is only through our collective, genuine commitment that we can ensure the welfare our future generation. Together with all those vulnerable and voiceless, it is high-time for us to stand up for their rights," it stated.

The CHR, which has been critical of the administration's war on drugs campaign, has been under the spotlight after the House of Representatives voted to give the agency only P1,000 in funds for 2018.