CHR on Phl rights record: We could do better

MANILA, Philippines - Describing the country’s human rights record as “far less sterling than it can be,” Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chairman Chito Gascon lamented yesterday incidents of human rights violations in the Philippines, as the country celebrated International Human Rights Day.

“On human rights day, all nations are asked to reflect upon how we might further uphold dignity of persons by respecting their human rights,” Gascon said. “It is unfortunate that from a long-term perspective, the Philippine record in this regard is far less sterling than it can be.”

The CHR, in partnership with various civil society organizations, organized a festival and concert yesterday to highlight the importance of upholding human rights across the world.

“This year’s global theme calls on everyone to stand up for someone’s rights at this time, when humanity is under attack and human dignity is being devalued,” said the commission, referring to this year’s theme “Stand Up for Someone’s Rights Today.”

“We must remain steadfast in confronting the many challenges to human rights in this country and elsewhere in the world. Now more than ever should the flame of commitment to human values be spread and intensified,” the government body said.

The commemoration came amidst ongoing criticisms on alleged human rights violations by the Duterte administration in its campaign against illegal drugs.

The CHR is currently conducting a fact-finding investigation on over 500 deaths supposedly related to the war on drugs, including 202 cases of police operations and 186 alleged vigilante killings or summary executions linked to illegal drugs.

Gascon earlier cited resource limitations in covering what he called an unprecedented spate of killings in the country.

He challenged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate the cases and deliver justice to the victims, stressing that their jurisdiction is only fact-finding and recommendatory.

Dangerous threat to lawyers

Meanwhile, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) raised alarm yesterday over President Duterte’s statement that his war on drugs would next target lawyers defending drug suspects.

In a statement, the leadership of the mandatory organization of over 60,000 lawyers in the country described the statement of the President, himself a lawyer, as “very dangerous.” 

“Lawyers must be free to decide to accept and undertake the defense in any kind of criminal case without any fear that doing so will place them in any kind of danger,” the IBP stressed.

“Competent legal representation is not only the right of every accused but, more importantly, the sworn duty of each and every member of the Bar to provide,” it added.

The IBP said the right of every respondent or accused in criminal cases, be they drug cases or not, is not only enshrined in the Bill of Rights in the Constitution but also “premised upon the fundamental principles of justice and fairness, particularly in a situation where the accused is faced with the awesome resources of the State.” 

“The right assumes an active involvement by the lawyer in the proceedings, particularly at the trial of the case, his bearing constantly in mind of the basic rights of the accused, his being well-versed on the case and his knowing the fundamental procedures, essential laws and existing jurisprudence. The right of an accused to counsel finds substance in the performance by the lawyer of his sworn duty of fidelity to his client,” the IBP pointed out.

The IBP said it is policing its own ranks and “will never tolerate or condone any kind of unscrupulous or unethical conduct on the part of its members in the performance of their roles as defense counsels, much less any criminal involvement of any lawyer in the drug trade.”

The organization’s national president and chair, Rosario Setias-Reyes, and other national officers and regional governors signed the IBP statement.

It was a reaction to Duterte’s speech during an anti-corruption campaign, where he said lawyers of suspected drug lords are taking advantage of the judicial process, allowing their clients to continue with their illegal activities.

Because of drug suspects being able to post bail, the President said he would “include” their lawyers in his war on drugs.

Last August, Rogelio Bato Jr., lawyer of slain Albuera mayor Rolando Espinosa, was shot to death.

De Lima: Government in denial

Sen. Leila de Lima chided the administration yesterday for continuing to be in denial of the human rights violations being committed in the country, particularly in relation to its war against illegal drugs.

In a statement timed during the observance of International Human Rights Day, De Lima belittled the independent human rights probe conducted by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), which found no massive human rights violations taking place in the country.

“The so-called independent probe conducted by the Department of the Interior and Local Government is an insult not only to human rights workers but also, most especially, to the Filipino people at a time when the Philippines joins the international community in the observance of Human Rights Day today,” De Lima said.

De Lima argued that the criminals in the country are getting bolder by the day, based on the still unabated killings taking place on a daily basis. 

“To say there is no massive human rights violations is like telling us we do not have a traffic problem in the country,” De Lima said. “Like the traffic problem, our people are outraged at these continued killings done in the name of government’s all-out war against drugs.” 

The DILG probe team recommended, among others, the creation of a police manual, which it said should be available in every police precinct.

De Lima said it would appear that the DILG team was not aware of the Revised Philippine National Police Operational Procedures, which was promulgated in 2013.

“This is shocking,” De Lima stressed. “Our policemen should know this manual of operations by heart, so that they will learn to respect the human rights and dignity of all suspected offenders during police operations at all times.”

Deadly drug war

Liberal Party acting president Sen. Francis Pangilinan also issued a statement as part of the observance of Human Rights Day yesterday, airing his concern over how the government’s war against drugs is being implemented.

Pangilinan described the anti-illegal drug campaign of the administration as “controversial and deadly” and one that victimizes the poor, vulnerable and marginalized.

He cited the findings of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights about how policemen who are part of Oplan Tokhang are violating the constitutional rights of the personalities they are apprehending.

Pangilinan also aired his concern about the plan of the allies of the administration to bring down the age of criminal responsibility in the country to nine years.

“Today, Dec. 10, we call on all Filipinos to reaffirm our common humanity, concern for our fellowmen and stand up for the rights of all,” Pangilinan said.

“We echo the call of the United Nations for each of us to ‘step forward and defend the rights of a refugee or migrant, a person with disabilities, an LGBT person, a woman, a child, indigenous peoples, a minority group, or anyone else at risk of discrimination or violence,’ – mga nasa laylayan ng ating lipunan (those on the fringe of our society),” he added. – Janvic Mateo, Edu Punay, Marvin Sy