PH sends mixed signals on human rights – HRW

MANILA, Philippines – The New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said that the Philippines “continues to send mixed signals about its commitment to improve human rights in the Philippines.”

In the World Report 2015 released on Saturday, January 31, the group reminded the Philippine government of its promise to improve human rights in the country by addressing cases of torture and extrajudicial killings by the police and other state security forces. 

HRW said that the number of cases of extrajudicial killings, torture, and enforced disappearances by the police and military has dropped in the last 4 years, but they still occur regularly.

“The Aquino administration needs to ensure that police responsible for serious abuses are thoroughly investigated and prosecuted,” Phelim Kine, HRW deputy Asia director, said. “Ending the culture of impunity for police torture should be a top priority for Aquino in his final two years in office.”

The group lauded recent government measures that promote good human right practices such as:

• the creation of “justice zones” which expedite court proceedings via electronic methods like issuances of e-warrants and e-subpoenas
• the arrest of retired army General Jovito Palparan, who is implicated in cases such as the disappearances of student activists in 2006
• the signing of a peace agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)

But despite these, HRW said that “activists, journalists, environmentalists, and tribal leaders continue to be targets of attacks.”

The group also identified lingering problems such as:

• “little progress” seen in the investigations into the killings of journalists
• police use of torture, such as the torture of inmates in Laguna and of those arrested in Zamboanga City after the September 2013 attack
  
• “death squad” in Tagum City that has killed hundreds of suspected criminals
• the remaining displaced residents of Zamboanga City affected by the September 2013 attack

The group added that the courts have yet to convict anyone of torturing suspects in custody.

“The crucial missing ingredient in addressing the Philippines’ human rights problems is a lack of political will,” Kine said. “The Aquino administration needs to bring security force personnel implicated in rights violations to justice to send the message that official tolerance for such abuses is at an end.” – Rappler.com