CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Human Rights (CHR)-7 cried foul when inmates were ordered to strip naked during the recent greyhound operation inside the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC).
And as if these were not enough, the proliferation of the naked photos online, where some inmates are reportedly recognizable, just compounded the issue all the more, said CHR-7 Investigation Division Head Leo Villarino.
"Some say that their rights were violated, especially katong pictures nga na-published. Ang kauwaw ba, klaro kaayo ang nawng. Nahibaw ang paryente ato nga kaila sila, mao nay usa ka what makes this incident worrisome," Villaino said.
He said that sensibility to the inmates should also be observed by the media by not publishing the photos.
"What is the additional necessity of publishing the photo in the newspaper, for everyone to feast?" Villaino added.
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, for his part, found it "improper" for authorities to let inmates be stripped naked during the recent greyhound operation at the Capitol-run jail facility.
He said there may be protocols to be followed but law enforcers should not subject inmates to shame.
"Precisely, I said these are improper things to do. Put yourself in the shoes of these people and their families. Is this the best approach?" Palma told reporters.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7, upon the request of Governor Hilario Davide III, conducted the greyhound operation last Tuesday, where 76 cellular phones, 19 medium sachets of shabu, P92,000, laptop and media players, lighters and drug paraphernalia were recovered.
While Davide did not give "expressed order" to strip naked the CPDRC inmates, he does not see any violation in doing such.
"Pananglitan aduna gyud gipasok nga cellpone or unsa ba, mogawas man gyud na. Wa man sila gi-maltreat tingali or unsa. They were just there and rounded up to remove their clothing kay wa ta kabawo unsa bay gipanago nila. So I don't see anything nga violative sa human rights or dignity or unsa ba ron. Wa man tingali. It's a part of procedure," Davide said.
In a statement, Davide said the inmates being stripped naked is clearly under the discretion of PDEA-7 ground operatives and commanders.
PDEA-7 Head Yogi Filemon Ruiz questioned the CHR as to why it raised the issue only now.
Ruiz maintained they did not violate any human right when they ordered the prisoners to strip.
"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. Wa tay gipakauwawan," he told reporters in a press conference yesterday.
Ruiz noted that a similar operation was undertaken at the Cebu City Jail in August last year but the CHR reportedly did not question it.
"That's what we did in the city jail. Nganong karon pa man?" Ruiz said.
He, however, welcomes any investigation into the raid, saying that is part of the hazards of the law enforcers' job.
He explained they ordered inmates to remove all their clothes as part of the security measures since some inmates might be bringing with them bladed weapons.
"Wa ta kabalo nga basin naay bladed weapons nga nakasuksok diha nga pwede idunggab sa atong mga personnel," he said.
During the operation, there were only a total of 289 personnel of PDEA-7, Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police against the more than 3, 000 inmates.
"Kung naay madunggaban sa akong mga tawo, kinsa may mo-explain sa ilang pamilya? Are the human rights experts going to explain to the family? Nga mao ni nahitabo. I'm sorry we have to maintain the rights of the prisoners?' I better face criticisms than allowing that to happen," Ruiz said.
He stressed that that rules were strictly observed during the operation.
He disclosed that female inmates were even not ordered to strip off their clothes and were only frisked by female agents.
"Only female personnel went to the female dormitory," he said.
Cebu Provincial Board Member Thadeo Jovito Ouano said he will raise the recent CPDRC controversy to the PB's caucus session on Monday morning for possible intervention or inquiry.
Ouano said they will decide whether or not there's a need for Dr. Gil Macato, the relieved warden of CPDRC, to shed light on the controversy.
CHR personnel went to the provincial jail yesterday to commence their investigation about the possible human rights violation committed during the raid but waited for 30 minutes before they were allowed to enter the facility.
CPDRC Officer-in-charge Bobby Legaspi said they didn't receive any communication from the office of CHR for their visit.
Villarino said that a formal investigation will be conducted not only on Legaspi but also on former acting warden Dr. Gil Macato, since it was during his term when the greyhound conducted.
"What is the necessity of stripping the inmates naked during the operation greyhound and also what is the purpose on why the photo of the naked inmates be published on newspaper and share it to the social media?" Villarino said.
Legaspi, for his part, said the raid followed the proper protocol.
"Once they enter the room, secure the inmates, they have the inmates strip themselves. They don't want to physically touch the inmates because of sharp objects, concealed weapons as well as, we understand there were also individuals in the cells designated to hide contrabands up their cavity, their anus," Legaspi said.
"So by strip searching him, by bringing them into the quadrangle and letting them squat for a certain period, they get tired so their muscles relax, they can't hold whatever object that they are hiding," Legaspi added. — Mae Clydyl L. Avila, Michael Vencynth H. Braga, Kristine B. Quintas, May Miasco, Le Phyllis F. Antojado (FREEMAN)