Respect rights of citizens, Philippine human rights body tells police, soldiers

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / January 9, 2010) – The Philippines Commission on Human Rights on Saturday warned authorities to respect human rights as police and soldiers enforce a six-month gun ban ahead of the May 10 national and local elections.

Lawyer Leila de Lima, the head of the Commission on Human Rights, said policemen and soldiers should respect the rights of citizens, especially motorists who pass through road blocks and checkpoints.

The gun ban, which will begin Sunday, is aimed at minimizing political violence during the election campaign period.

“Respect human rights of motorists, even while enforcing the gun ban. The idea of checkpoints to enforce the gun ban in order to minimize political violence during the current election campaign period can be an effective tool for peace and order,” De Lima said. “But even good intentions do not justify human rights violations and abuse of police power.”

In Zamboanga City, policemen and soldiers have been accused of violating human rights after they physically searched vehicles and frisked motorists at checkpoints even before the start of the gun ban.

Television news footages also show soldiers and policemen frisking motorcycle riders at checkpoints around Zamboanga.

Licensed gun owners, who deposit their firearms to security guards in malls and hospitals, also end up in police stations after authorities confiscate their guns. Many of them were traders who have received death threats and need to protect themselves against possible attacks.

The Commission on Human Rights said the rights of all persons stopped at the checkpoints should be respected, including their right to privacy and the right to be secure in their persons.

De Lima also reminded the police and soldiers that the law requires them to be identifiable at all times with name labels on their uniforms. She said the Commission on Human Rights will monitor the implementation of these checkpoints and any others that may be set up around the country.

“Clear and polite communication with the general public will go a long way in garnering the public’s cooperation,” De Lima said. “Most people are happy to cooperate for the sake of peace and order but they do not want to be treated like criminals or suspects from the very outset.”

De Lima said citizens can report to the Commission on Human Rights improper conduct or rights violations by soldiers and policemen. (Mindanao Examiner)

Respect human rights, military and rebels told

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Human Rights on Sunday called on the military and rebel forces in Basilan to respect human rights and humanitarian law even as they engage in combat, and urged the government to quickly assist civilians affected by the fighting.

This came after reports that President Gloria Arroyo ordered the Armed Forces to "annihilate the Abu Sayyaf" armed group in Mindanao.

“Armed battle is not an excuse for anyone to violate the human dignity of opposing forces or to violate the rights of civilians,”said CHR Chairperson Leila De Lima.

“Its particularly ironic that this battle and reported atrocities such as hacking at soldiers were committed at the very same time the CHR was holding a National Summit on International Humanitarian Law to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Geneva Conventions which is on August 12th,” she said.

De Lima said the CHR will work to bring the Summit recommendations to policy and action by the relevant actors, including rebel groups.

Among the results of the Summit, participants from various sectors including the government and uniformed services called on all parties to armed conflict to respect IHL and the rights of protected persons such as civilians, medical personnel and non-combatants even if they belong to one of the fighting sides. Prisoners of war and wounded soldiers belong to this latter group.

Bill allows CHR to suspend cabinet members, LGU execs that violate human rights

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Human Rights shall be authorized to suspend a member of the Cabinet, a Governor, Mayor or any official of the local government unit (LGU) if found guilty of violating human rights under a bill being considered by a House body.

Rep. Roman Romulo (Lone District, Pasig City), however, expressed apprehension over the said provision of House Bill 1420, which is now the subject of deliberation by the House Committee on Human Rights chaired by Rep. Lorenzo Tañada III (4th District, Quezon).

Section 23 of the bill authored by Akbayan Rep. Ana Theresia Hontiveros states that the CHR may preventively suspend any elective or appointive public officer or employee, including members of the Cabinet, local government, government-owned-or controlled corporations and their subsidiaries.

Exempted from the coverage of this authority are the President, the Vice President, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House, the Chief Justice, the Members of Congress, the judiciary and other impeachable officials.

Roman said the specific provision of the proposed bill, also known as the Commission on Human Rights Act of 2007 should be clarified and those stakeholders going to be affected should be consulted.

Romulo told the recent public hearing of the human rights panel that with the bill, the CHR will not only be a "superbody" but will have the authority to suspend for three months any Cabinet member, local executive or even officials of government controlled corporations whom they think has violated human rights.

"The sole guideline here is if the evidence of guilt is strong against those officials," Romulo said.

CHR Chairperson Leila De Lima explained to the committee that the adoption of a new charter for the CHR is aimed at protecting and strengthening its independence and operational effectiveness.

"The status of the CHR as an independent and constitutionally created institution must be protected, and its power to delineate its own organizational structure and to have fiscal autonomy is one of the key element of this proposed charter," De Lima said.

De Lima added that the measure has now specifically laid down other powers and functions of the Commission including the witness protection program, financial assistance program, legal assistance program, protection of Filipinos abroad, proposals for the creation of ad hoc groups for certain exceptional cases and the issuance of clearances. (Fidel Gumawid)

Rights body accuses military as top abuser

Political activists led by different Moro human rights groups rally in Cotabato City in Mindanao on Wednesday, December 10, 2008. The rally was led by KAWAGIB Moro Human Rights and Suara Bangsamoro and participated also by different progressive organizations and civil society organizations namely, Liga ng Kabataang Moro, Suara Talyawid, Suara Bangsamoro Women, ANAKBAYAN Cotabato, Gabriela Cotabato and Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society.

MANILA, Philippines - Commission on Human Rights Chairman Leila de Lima on Wednesday said the military ranks number one among perpetrators of political and extrajudicial killings in the the Philippines.

At Malacañang, President Glo­ria Arroyo issued an administrative order aimed at strengthening government policies and programs for the effective promotion of human rights.

“As to suspects or alleged perpetrators, political and extrajudicial killings are attributed to military, police and civilians alike. Significantly, the military ranks number one among identified perpetrators of such killings,” de Lima said.

The 24-page summary of the rights body’s yearend report that was read by de Lima during the celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights showed that the military’s human rights abuses are “based on accounts of witnesses.”

However, she also said that rebel groups are also among the suspects and perpetrators of human rights violations.

The Commission on Human Rights has documented some 142 cases of politically motivated extrajudicial killings in the country from 2007 to the third quarter of 2008.

“From the total of 142 cases, 30 cases occurred in Region 12, followed by Region 11 with 29, Region 8 with 20, Region 6 with 15 and Region 5 with 12 cases. Almost all victims with a total of 180 were affiliated to certain activists’ group, labor organizations and other political associations,” de Lima said.

The report showed the rights body documented 37 cases of enforced disappearance, abduction or kidnapping during the same period.

De Lima also lauded Chief Justice Reynato Puno for being the “close ally of the Commission” for his critical efforts in addressing human rights issues in the country.

She also stressed that “it must be emphasized that the state of the human rights situation of the nation is a reflection, not just of the performance of the President [Gloria Arroyo], or of any other politician or government official for that matter, but of the performance of each of the 91 million individuals who call this country his or her home.”

For her part, US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney said that every Filipino can make a difference and become a champion of human rights by assuring that everyone’s rights are protected.

But Manila Archbishop Gau­dencio Cardinal Rosales said that the exercise of basic freedoms are not yet in reality in the country since the government lacks the political will to implement international norms they have willingly accepted.

“There are many mistakes and shortcomings . . . I feel sad and I feel bad because many are still doing it [human rights abuses],” he said.(Manila Times - Ira Karen Apanay With Angelo S. Samonte And Anthony Vargas)