DILG orders probe on stripping of Cebu inmates

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has ordered an investigation into the incident at the Cebu provincial jail last Tuesday where prisoners were made to strip naked during a contraband search.

Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno said he wanted to know if it was really necessary to have the prisoners stripped naked during the search.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) will also conduct an investigation on the incident.

CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said the commission would engage with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to find out about the operation, which supposedly resulted in the confiscation of packets of illegal drugs, cash and other prohibited items.

Photos of inmates sitting naked and cross-legged at the prison’s quadrangle circulated online, generating mixed reactions from netizens.

The photos triggered global accusations of more human rights abuses in President Duterte’s war on drugs.

Amnesty International said the incident amounts to cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment of prisoners.

“It is state obligation to guarantee that prisoners are treated in accordance with international standards,” Amnesty International said.

It called for sanctions on those responsible for the inmates’ public humiliation.

Cebu provincial government spokesman Jason Monteclaro justified the stripping of inmates was necessary to protect the search team that, he said, was “clearly outnumbered.”

The search team is composed of about 280 personnel from PDEA, police and military as against some 3,600 prisoners to be searched.

Monteclaro said they were trying to prevent a possible knife attack that could trigger a riot.

Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III reportedly agreed on the PDEA on how the operation will be conducted.

“He (Davide) just made a request from PDEA because of reports that contraband were being smuggled into the facility,” Monteclaro said.

The CHR, citing the UN standard minimum rules for treatment of prisoners, said intrusive searches including strip and body cavity searches should only be undertaken if absolutely necessary.

“Prison administration shall be encouraged to develop and use appropriate alternatives to intrusive searches,” De Guia said.

She said such searches should be conducted in private and by trained staff of the same gender of the prisoner.  

“The commission is also concerned because it may constitute a violation of Republic Act 9745 or the Anti-Torture Law,” De Guia added.

Rep. Antonio Tinio of party-list group Alliance of Concerned Teachers said PDEA violated the law in ordering the strip search.

“It can be considered as a form of cruel and degrading punishment, which the law and even the Constitution prohibit. Those responsible for it should be held accountable,” Tinio said.

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines- Commission on Prison Pastoral Care executive secretary Rudy Diamante said the CHR must hold the PDEA accountable.

“The CBCP-ECPPC condemns this manner of the PDEA in carrying out their task,” Diamante said.

“We call on the CHR to hold into account the people who authorized and execute this blatant violation of the dignity of the human person and their human rights,” he said.

No malice

PDEA regional chief Yogi Filemon Ruiz said the strip search for the prisoners was made for security reasons.

“There was no intention to degrade. The intention there is for the protection of our personnel and the detainees... the search was done in an orderly and peaceful manner,” Ruiz said. – With Janvic Mateo, Jess Diaz, Evelyn Macairan, Michael Vencynth Braga/ The Freeman