Pubdate: Wed, 02 Mar 2005
Source: Manila Standard (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005 Manila Standard
Contact:  http://www.manilastandardonline.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3450
Author: Joyce Pangco Panares
Cited: Philippine National Police http://www.pnp.gov.ph
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Summary+Execution
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines

PNP WORST ABUSER, SAYS US REPORT

Washington has branded the Philippine National Police as "the worst
abuser of human rights" in the country in the 2004 Country Reports on
Human Rights Practices it released yesterday.

The US State Department said that based on the information received
from the Commission on Human Rights, local policemen are the no. 1
violator in the Philippines.

"Police and local government leaders at times appeared to sanction
extrajudicial killings and vigilantism as an expedient means of
fighting crime and terrorism," the report said.

US Undersecretary for Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky, however, noted
that the number of complaints received by CHR decreased to 130 last
year, from 201 cases in 2003.

The report highlighted instances where even human rights activists
fell prey to military and police abuse.

Citing the records of the nongovernment organization Task Force
Detainees of the Philippines, the State Department said there were
eight instances of summary executions of civilians by government
forces in 2004.

"In combating criminal organizations, security forces sometimes
resorted to the summary execution of suspects, or salvaging. Police
and military spokespersons at times explained these killings as the
unavoidable result of a shootout with suspects or escapees," the
report added.

The shootout at Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac on Nov. 16 last year was
mentioned in the report. Twelve persons, including two children were
killed in the dispersal of picketing strikers.

The Washington-based agency noted that reforms should be carried out
in PNP, especially those at the rank-and-file level who are prone to
commit abuses.

"Higher-level PNP officials appeared receptive to respecting the human
rights of detainees. However, rank-and-file awareness of the rights of
detainees remained inadequate," the report concluded.
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