Int'l rights group urges PNoy: Sign anti-disappearances law

MANILA, Philippines - International rights group Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Thursday urged President Aquino to sign into law a bill criminalizing enforced disappearances in the Philippines.

The rights group said that a law criminalizing enforced disappearances in the Philippines would be the first in Asia.

"It would demonstrate the Philippine government's commitment to address human rights abuses such as the abduction and killing by the security forces of activists, environmentalists and journalists," HRW said in a statement.

The two chambers of Congress have ratified the conference committee report on the proposed Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act of 2012.

Local rights groups have been throwing allegations at the military and the police of committing enforced disappearance.

The most famous case of enforced disappearance in the country is that of activist agriculturist Jonas Burgos in Bulacan province five years ago. Female state university students, Sherlyn Capan and Karen Empeno, are also victims of enforced disappearance.

Relatives of the victims as well as rights groups helping them pursue the cases believe that the military is involved in the abductions.

“Enforced disappearances, often involving torture and extrajudicial killings, have been a blot on the Philippines’ human rights record since the Ferdinand Marcos dictatorship,” said Brad Adams, HRW's director.

He said that even during the administration of President Aquino, abductions allegedly involving authorities continue.

“Congress has done a great job in taking the initiative to pass a law on enforced disappearances,” Adams said. “President Aquino can show his administration’s commitment to ending this black chapter of Philippine history. He can also assume a role as a regional leader on human rights.”

Once the law is enacted into law, Sen. Francis Escudero said violators would be meted the penalty of life imprisonment, which is equivalent to 20 years and one day to 40 years imprisonment.

Escudero is the principal author and sponsor of the bill.

Under the bill, the issuance of “orders of battle,” whether official or not by the military, police or any law enforcement agency to justify an enforced or involuntary disappearance would be prohibited.

The courts would also be required to ensure the expeditious disposition of habeas corpus and amparo proceedings and the concerned government agencies should ensure immediate compliance with any release order by virtue of such proceedings.

The measure also prohibits secret detention facilities and mandates compensation, restitution and rehabilitation of victims and kin.

Within six months after the measure is enacted, all related government agencies are mandated to submit an updated inventory of all officially recognized and controlled detention facilities and the list of detainees under their respective jurisdictions.

(2012-10-18/philstar)