Philippine police release manual on human rights

MANILA: The Philippine National Police (PNP) has released an operational manual designed to guide all its units on the protection of human rights, a ranking PNP officer disclosed.

Senior Superintendent Clarence pointed out the manual represents an important element in the human rights programme of the 125,000-strong PNP which has been denounced for its alleged rampant abuses by militants as well as civil society and religious groups.

The release of the manual coincided with the takeover by Guinto of the PNP’s Human Rights Affairs Office (HRAO) based at its national headquarters in suburban Quezon City, Metro Manila.

Guinto explained the manual delineates the duties and responsibilities of all human rights desks established by the PNP throughout the country.

For instance, he said, the manual lays down strict procedures policemen should follow in taking down complaints on human rights violations and the ensuing investigations.

It also contains possible punitive measures, like suspension and dismissal from the service, that await policemen who violate these rules, Guinto warned.

Guinto took over the HRAO following the promotion of his predecessor Chief Superintendent Franklin Bucayo as the chief of the PNP regional office in Northern Luzon based in the capital city of San Fernando in La Union province.

Reliable PNP sources, who requested anonymity, said Guinto faces a “daunting challenge” as the HRAO chief because of widely perceived human rights abuses by policemen including “salvaging,” or the extra-judicial killing of suspected criminals as well as activists.


(2010-12-28/Gulf Today)