Rights lawyers slam lady cop's HR appointment

MANILA, Philippines - A group of human rights lawyers on Friday labelled the appointment of a retired police general to the Human Rights Victims Claims Board by President Benigno Aquino III as a "mockery and a bad prank."

Lawyer Edre Olalia, secretary general of the National Union of People's Lawyers, said that retired Chief Superintendent Lina Sarmiento has no record of a "deep and thorough understanding and knowledge of human rights and involvement in efforts against human rights violations" during the Martial law years.

"Does she "have a clear and adequate understanding and commitment to human rights protection, promotion and advocacy?" Olalia said.

He also questioned the motive of the Aquino administration on appointing Sarmiento as the head of the Claims Board.

"Why put a woman in uniform who represents an institution that has historically played its indispensable role in violating  human rights  at the helm of a body on human rights? What sort of macabre message is this?" Olalia said.

"As a PNP "human rights officer," she played into the part of the apologist mechanism during the GMA administration killing spree and nightmare of disappearances of scores of civilians," he added.