Over 600 cops sued for HR violations

MANILA - A total of 674 police personnel have been charged for various human rights violations since President Rodrigo Duterte took office in 2016, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Oscar Albayalde said Wednesday, June 20.

Albayalde said these charges show that the PNP respects human rights.

He made the statement amid concerns of possible human rights violations in line with the PNP’s intensified operation against loiterers or “tambays.”

“As a law enforcement organization, the PNP cannot help being accused of alleged human rights violations because of the nature of our job that often require us to apply reasonable force when effecting arrests and when confronted by forcible resistance,”

he said.

“But as a policy, let me assure that the PNP remains keenly responsive to the requirement of respect for human rights in law enforcement,” he added.

Of the 674 police officers charged, 19 have been dismissed while the others have been meted penalties ranging from demotion to suspension.

The charges were filed from July 2016 to May 2018 before the Internal Affairs Service and the Discipline, Law and Order Division of the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management.

“(The) Most common human rights violation cases stemmed from homicide, illegal arrest with grave threats, violation of POP (Police Operational Procedures), violation of Anti-Torture Act, maltreatment and abuse of detained person,” he said.

He said the Police Regional Office 4A in Calabarzon has the highest number of erring police personnel at 279, followed by the National Capital Regional Police Office with 90, National Headquarters with 39, and Police Regional Office 8 in Eastern Visayas with 37.

Albayalde said the highest ranks of those charged were Police Superintendent and Police Chief Inspectors while the lowest was Police Officer 1.

The PNP’s intensified drive against "tambays" which stemmed from President Rodrigo Duterte’s pronouncement was slammed by several groups and lawmakers.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has urged the PNP to suspend its implementation for fear that it may result in violation of human rights.

However, Albayalde said they have yet to receive any report on human rights violation in relation to the anti-tambay operations.