PNP may soon stop practice of presenting arrested suspects before media

CAMP DANGWA, Benguet, Philippines – The practice of parading arrested suspects by police for photo opportunity may soon be a thing of the past. Deputy Director General Jesus Verzosa of the Philippine National Police said that they would review this policy, which has been criticized by human rights groups. "There were issues raised that presenting the arrested suspects before the media violates the persons' rights to be presumed as innocent (until proven otherwise by the courts)," said Verzosa. “The PNP is having a change of mind after the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) sent emails requesting concerned advocates to urge the PNP, AFP, and government officials to discontinue such practice, saying that Section 14 (2) of the 1987 Philippine Constitution recognizes the principle of "presumption of innocence," Verzosa said. AHRC recently blasted the “systematic practice" by police, military and government officials in the Philippines in showing the faces of arrested suspects before media and general public. “The government’s inaction and failure to enact laws to prohibit this systematic practice has directly encouraged the discrimination and humiliation of suspects by the police, military and public officials," AHRC said. “It has also sent a strong message to the general public that the practice is acceptable and that suspects do not deserve certain rights when it is alleged that they have been involved in a crime," it added. - GMANews.TV