CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) called on policemen in the Northern Mindanao region to continuously fulfill their role as defenders of human rights such as the “right to life, personal liberty, security, and poverty, as well as physical and psychological integrity.”
COMMISSION on Human Rights chairperson lawyer Richard Palpal-latoc answers questions from the media during the Cagayan de Oro leg of the CHR’s two-day nationwide human rights education caravan dubbed ‘Lakbay Karapatan Tungo sa Kamalayan’ (LaKaran) at the Police Regional Office-10 headquarters in Barangay Lapasan on Wednesday, May 24. (Franck Dick Rosete)
CHR chairperson lawyer Richard Palpal-latoc made the call during the Cagayan de Oro leg of the agency’s two-day nationwide human rights education caravan dubbed "Lakbay Karapatan Tungo sa Kamalayan” (LaKaran) at the Police Regional Office-10 headquarters in Barangay Lapasan here on Wednesday, May 24.
Palpal-latoc stressed that the police authorities have been the CHR’s partner in protecting human rights.
"We see the PNP as a reliable partner in performing the state of the nation to respect, protect, and uphold the human rights of all through their peace, socio-civic, and security measures," said Palpal-latoc in his opening remarks.
One of the activity’s objectives is to remind the law enforcement agencies of the value of human rights, considering that there have been reports in the past on human rights violations involving personnel or officers from law enforcement.
The CHR chairperson acknowledged the investigation made by the Philippine National Police whenever there’s a police officer who is accused of human rights violations, stressing the possible administrative case the involved may face.
However, the CHR also made it very clear that it will investigate human rights violations involving law enforcers and assure that it will file a case against the perpetrators if there’s criminal accountability.
"Our accountability mechanism is to file administrative and criminal complaints against the perpetrators. In the administrative (case), if the PNP already conducted an investigation, that’s one of them, but if there’s criminal accountability, we will also be filing criminal charges against the perpetrators," Palpal-latoc said in Filipino in an interview.
In its response, the PNP-Northern Mindanao continuously ensures that human rights are respected, protected, and fulfilled, adding that all PNP-10 personnel will internalize and apply all the valuable lessons of human rights education.
"It is a universally accepted norm that professionalism in the police service can only be achieved if it truly respects the rights of every citizen regardless of race, culture, beliefs, and standing in life," PRO-10 director Brig. Gen. Lawrence Coop said in his written message read by PRO-10 deputy director Brig. Gen. Benedicto Pintor.
After the kick-off celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with PRO-10, the CHR visited Barangays Nazareth, Macasandig, and Camaman-an here for the establishment of a Barangay Human Rights Action Center Team.
There was also the signing of a memorandum of agreement between CHR and the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology to renew the partnership in maintaining a Center for Human Rights Education in Iligan City.
On Thursday, May 25, the CHR will conduct a paralegal workshop and dialogue with different local civil society organizations.
LaKaran is a flagship program of CHR that aims to reach the grassroots of society and strengthen its partnership with local government units, security sectors, civil society organizations, and other concerned government agencies.