CHR apologizes over failures in secret Manila jail cell incident

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) apologized for its failure to rescue around 12 detainees who were being held in a secret jail cell in a Manila police station in April 2017.

CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia issued the statement after the CHR drew flak over a scene in the film “Aswang” which showed the plight of individuals, both men and women, detained in a room behind a bookshelf with no window and lights.

Worse, these individuals had not been charged and were being tortured. Furthermore, police were attempting to extort thousands of pesos from them in exchange for their release.

But even as these crimes were exposed, the film showed that the CHR apparently gave the police time to rectify its actions by processing documents so as to send the individuals to detention again.

“Marami ang lumabas na puna at kritisismo sa social media ukol sa naging aksyon ng CHR sa secret jail sa Manila Police District-Raxabago Police Station 1 (MPD Station 1) noong 2017 bunsod ng pagpapalabas ng dokumentaryong ‘Aswang’. Kinikilala namin ang mga puna at kami ay bukas sa anumang feedback mula sa publiko para mapabuti ang aming serbisyo,” de Guia said.

“Kami ay humihingi ng paumanhin sa naging pagkukulang ng CHR at kabiguang masagip ang mga biktima sa araw na matuklasan ang secret jail,” de Guia added.

The CHR, however, clarified that it had taken steps to make the police officers involved in the secret jail accountable, starting with recommending the filing of criminal and administrative charges against station commander Supt. Robert Domingo and his subordinates before the Office of the Ombudsman for arbitrary detention, grave threats, grave coercion, robbery/extortion, and violation of the Anti-Torture Act.

Furthermore, the CHR participated in the House Committee on Human Rights' inquiry on the secret jail, as well as assisted in placing prosecution witnesses in the witness protection program.

“Hanggang sa kasalukuyan, patuloy ang pakikipag-ugnayan ang CHR sa Office of the Ombudsman para i-monitor ang pag-usad ng kaso,” de Guia said.

Moreover, the CHR also established Protection and Prevention Clusters as well as the Interim National Preventive Mechanism to ensure that the rights of persons deprived of liberty were protected.

Given these steps, de Guia said that the CHR would always welcome any effort to bring the abuse of human rights to light, including that of the secret jail, since this was crucial in holding perpetrators accountable for their crime.

“Nagpapasalamat ang CHR na nabuhay ang usapin sa mga paglabag sa karapatan ng mga PDLs at ang kasong ito. Mahalaga ito para sa tulung-tulong na pagkilos ng gobyerno, civil society, at pangkalahatang publiko tungo sa pagpapabuti at pagtutuwid ng sistema,” de Guia said.

“Umaasa din ang CHR na makakatulong ito para mapabilis ang pag-usad ng hustisya at mapanagot agad ang mga pulis na sangkot sa nakapangingilabot na paglabag sa dignidad at karapatan ng mga 12 na biktima ng MPD Station 1 secret cell na ngayon ay nakabinbin sa Opisina ng Ombudsman. Sama-sama tayong maging mapagmatyag sa anumang uri ng paglabag sa karapatang pantao ngayon at sa hinaharap,” de Guia added. — DVM, GMA News