Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chairperson Richard P. Palpal-latoc has suggested that a refresher course on human rights be conducted for all members of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

In a gathering with journalists on Monday, Aug. 14, Palpal-latoc said the refresher course would enable policemen to effectively carry out their duties and responsibilities without infringing on the rights of those they are seeking to protect and those they are protecting them from.

He pointed out that there is a presumption within the PNP that "once they are in the service, they are already trained."

However, he stressed that policemen and other law enforcers need to understand the processes of their jobs and “this is where a retraining on human rights should come in.”

"In fact meron din naman ngayon (there is already) existing training na binibigay sa kanila (that is given to them) on human rights," he noted.

He said the focus of the training should be on police operational procedures and guidelines.

"Kasi yun yung magiging human rights-based approach, yung procedures nila. Kung susundin mo lang nang tama yun, maiiwasan mo yung paglabag sa karapatang pantao. Siguro mas focused dun sa kanila bukod sa human rights training na binibigay sa kanila, (Because this is what will make a good human rights-based approach, their procedures. If they were to follow it properly, they would be able to avoid human rights violations. Maybe this should be the focus aside from the human rights training being given to them)," he said.

He then expressed CHR’s willingness to work with the PNP in the possible revision of the latter's manual. "Kung tama lang ang pagtupad duon, maa-address niya na yung maling gawa (If they follow it correctly, then they will be able to address whatever wrongs they have been doing)," he said.