Press
release
February 3,
2014
“Wheel of
torture” symbolizes culture of torture impunity in the Philippines
The
existence of “wheel of torture” game at a Philippine National Police (PNP)
detention facility in Biñan, Laguna where detainees are reportedly tortured by
authorities and its discovery by the Commission on Human Rights of the
Philippines (CHRP) last week only shows of what it seems everywhere before you
is a sight of impunity.
“While
noting the action by the CHRP in its inspection of the PNP lock-up cell in
Laguna, is deeply concerned on the existence of such detention facility which
only confirms the consistent and on-going allegations of routine and widespread
use of torture and ill-treatment of suspects in police custody, “ the United
Against Torture Coalition (UATC)-Philippines said.
In light of
this situation, the government and even the CHRP seemed to have overlooked one
thing: zero-tolerance of torture and full implementation of the Anti-Torture
Law. More importantly, the discovery of the secret detention facility has
further set the stage of existing culture of torture impunity in the
Philippines.
The UATC-
Philippines stressed that this lamentable situation reinforces the need for a
more systematic and diligent implementation of the Anti-Torture Law to ensure
perpetrators are brought to justice, that torture survivors receive medical and
legal services and other forms of redress, and that the authorities and the
public are made aware of such practices in order to ensure zero-tolerance of
torture.
“The
existence of secret detention facility indicates the government’s reluctance to
ensure full implementation of the Anti-Torture Law. In this case, the CHRP
should carry out random inspection of police station lock-up cells and conduct
unannounced inspection of all detention facilities as mandated by law and
ensure implementation of the PNP Memorandum-Directive of 4 November 2008
concerning inspection of lock-cells,” the UATC- Philippines emphasized.
The UATC-
Philippines reiterated that “suspension and dismissal of from service of the 10
suspected torturers are not enough. Cases should be filed against the alleged
perpetrators under the Anti-Torture Law and prosecute perpetrators.”
The adoption
of the Anti-Torture Law in 2009 is a significant improvement to the legal
environment in torture prevention in the Philippines. However, four years since
the law took effect the number of cases brought to court against perpetrators
remains a drop in the bucket. These problems are highlighted when one looks at
the practical situation on the grounds where there is lack of effective
monitoring and reporting of cases of torture cases and the lack of competence
of authorities to effectively investigate and prosecute these cases.
The UATC-
Philippines urges the CHRP to immediately convene the Oversight Committee (as
mandated by the Anti-Torture Law, Sec.20) in order to initiate reform in
ensuring effective implementation of the Anti-Torture Law, and to take all
necessary measures to implement its visitation mandate which include unhampered
and unrestrained access to all PNP detention facilities, including those under
the jurisdiction of the military.
The UATC-
Philippines calls on the PNP to fully comply with the Anti-Torture Law and to
comply with its “zero-tolerance” policy on the use of torture among all its
rank and file, and conduct inventory and inspection of all PNP custodial
facilities from regional, provincial, city to municipal police units and
lock-up cells nationwide.
The UATC-
Philippines is composed of more than thirty (30) human rights organizations led
by Amnesty International-Philippines, Balay Rehabilitation Center, Families of
Victims of Involuntary Disappearance (FIND), Medical Action Group (MAG), and
Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP).-30-
No comments:
Post a Comment