'Most trusted' recognition to Caloocan police meant to mislead public, rights group says

MANILA, Philippines — Human rights advocate group Karapatan on Tuesday slammed the "most trusted" police station recognition to the police station whose members are facing murder charges before local courts.

In a report by News 5, the Caloocan City police station was the most trusted police station according to a survey conducted by the National Police Commission from October to November 2017. The Caloocan City police station received 88.8% trust rating.

But rights group Karapatan slammed the award saying that it was meant to "mislead the public into believing the credibility of the police force, in Caloocan or elsewhere, by commissioning its own survey."

In a statement sent to Philstar.com, Karapatan also raised questions on the credibility and methodology of the survey.

"Were respondents asked by guntoting police personnel and with overt or implied threats of being tokhang-ed?" the group said.

The NAPOLCOM was sought for the metrics of the survey but has yet to respond to the email inquiry.

Several cops under the Caloocan City police station are facing murder and planting of evidence charges over the killing of three teenagers: 14-year-old Reynaldo "Kulot" De Guzman, 17-year-old Kian Delos Santos, and 19-year-old Carl Arnaiz.

The three were believed to be killed under the government's anti-drug operations in August last year.

Notably, the survey was conducted two months after the killings that received widespread condemnation from human rights advocates in the country and overseas.

"Napolcom's survey is a failure in its attempt to deodorize a police force hounded by allegations of human rights violations and corruption," Karapatan said, adding: "No survey can erase the fact that Caloocan and other cities in Metro Manila have become killing fields of glorified criminals in uniform such as the police."

The PNP has resumed its Oplan Tokhang operations—that is currently facing a petition challenging its constitutionality before the Supreme Court—on January 29.

'Public opinion and history are the ultimate judge'

Commission on Human Rights chief Chito Gascon, meanwhile, stressed that the the public opinion will remain the best judge of actions of those who work in public service.

In a text message to Philstar.com, said: "The NAPOLCOM sets its own standards regarding that which it chooses to recognize for whatever reason or motivation it may have. Far be it for the CHR to be able to fathom what this might be."

But he stressed that as public servants, they should be reminded that: "[P]ublic office is a public trust."

"In particular, the security sector [has] a sacred duty to serve and protect the people—ultimately it shall be the bar of public opinion and history that would pass judgment on us all," Gascon added.

Public Attorney's Office chief Persida Acosta, who represents the families of the slain teenagers, was also sought for comment, but has yet to reply.

READ: Calida: Petitions vs drug war 'dampen' successes of gov't