The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is hopeful for the future of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in terms of crime prevention and illegal drugs elimination as it welcomed the appointment of Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil as the new chief last April 1.
Marbil has expressed his commitment in improving the current progress made by the PNP in reducing crime rate through the use of innovative practices in technology. The PNP has already tapped into emerging technologies in order to widen its reach across communities and deal with new forms of crimes -- particularly in the world wide web.
"Emerging threats, such as cybercrime and transnational crimes, highlight the evolving landscape of security concerns in today's society. By acknowledging and seeking to address these challenges, we are hopeful of the new PNP leadership's commitment to safeguarding the safety and security of all citizens," the CHR said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Marbil has maintained that the PNP is shifting away from the language of "war" in dealing with the country's illegal drug menace. In the past, the term "war on drugs" has unfortunately been associated with widespread human rights abuses.
"We express optimism on his emphasis of accountability and transparency in all police operations," the CHR said of Marbil's stance. "The Commission expects that protection of human rights, including the right to life, due process, and access to justice for all individuals, will be manifested in the PNP’s approach to addressing drug issues," it said.
For its part, the CHR will continue monitoring developments in law enforcement practices to ensure the protection of human rights for all individuals.
"As the new PNP leadership endeavors to continue efforts to create safer and more secure communities, we remain willing and ready to work collaboratively with the law enforcement agency, particularly in ensuring human rights-based policing," it stressed.