56 cops facing rights complaints in early 2017

MANILA, Philippines -  At least 56 police officers are facing complaints for human rights violations in the first two months of the year, more than half of the 105 cases recorded in 2016, Philippine National Police (PNP) records show.

Most of the offenses are homicide and unlawful arrest. Topping the list is Ilocos region with 16, followed by Northern Mindanao with 10 and Metro Manila with nine, according to Chief Supt. Dennis Siervo, director of PNP Human Rights Affairs Office (HRAO).

The HRAO plans to conduct lectures and seminars in police regional offices to prevent the number of cases of human rights violations from surpassing the record in 2016.

In 2015, 131 police officers were involved in 43 cases of human rights abuses. In 2014, 174 police officers figured in 73 cases.

A majority of the offenses were murder involving 27 police officers, homicide with 19, violation of domicile with nine, arbitrary detention with five and rape with five.

“We will have to step up our drive on how to prevent occurrence of such violations,” Siervo said in a news briefing yesterday.

“We look at the statistics when we analyze what are the causes. We have to talk to these persons,” he added.

Siervo said the number of cases went down despite President Duterte’s war on illegal drugs marked by summary killings of drug suspects.

“If you think the war on illegal drugs will escalate the number of human rights violations, the statistics showed it did not,” he added.

He attributed the decrease to the PNP’s campaign of reminding police officers to always uphold human rights.

Siervo also said the HRAO has not yet received a case of “palit-ulo,” wherein a drug suspect’s relative is taken until the suspect surrenders. This was mentioned by Vice President Leni Robredo in a video message sent to the United Nations meeting.

CHR: Nothing ruled out yet in EJK probe

Meanwhile, the head of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) task force that is investigating the cases of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) in Duterte’s drug war clarified that it has not ruled out anything in its probe.

Reacting to reports that the CHR has ruled out the killings being state-sponsored, CHR commissioner Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana said it is premature to come up with a definite conclusion as their investigation is still ongoing.

“We are not ruling out anything,” Gana told The STAR. “What I just said is that in the alleged extrajudicial killing cases that we are investigating, we cannot as of the moment say that the 490-plus cases are state-sponsored.”

The task force called for an end to speculations as to whether all or some of the EJK cases were state-sponsored until every case is resolved.

“Our work at the CHR in investigating EJK cases nationwide continues, with impartiality and truth as our guiding lights and, at a more opportune time, we shall come out with a more comprehensive and complete report on the EJK cases referred to the task force,” Gana said.

“The CHR, as the independent national human rights institution, is committed to seeking the truth, backed by evidence, and enjoins fellow state institutions and stakeholders to continue working together in shedding light on the spate of killings that continue to happen so that accountability and justice could be served,” the commission added.

Meanwhile, detained Sen. Leila de Lima warned members of the administration that they would go to hell if they continue denying the existence of extrajudicial killings in the country.

De Lima, who has been critical of the administration’s war against drugs, said Duterte and his allies continue to be in a state of denial over the issue of EJKs.

“Evidently, state authorities are in a state of denial about the existence of EJKs in our country today. Since they refuse to recognize the problem, it’s understandable that they also refuse to fix it. But they should at least realize that there will surely be a day of reckoning,” she said.

“If they’re concerned about embarrassment before the eyes of the world, they should worry about eternal damnation,” she added.

Reacting to the latest pronouncements by PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa and other allies of the administration downplaying the existence of EJKs, De Lima said that they should be given a lecture on what the term actually means.

“Paging the CHR – Kindly educate Gen. Dela Rosa and other public functionaries on the meaning and concept of EJKs,” De Lima said in her latest note from detention at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame over drug-related charges.

“Paging also the Senate justice and human rights committee – when will you calendar please for consideration my anti-EJK bill?” she added.  –  With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Janvic Mateo, Marvin Sy