BuCor, CHR to assign human rights officers in jail facilities

The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and the Commission on Human Rights will designate human rights officers in jail facilities to monitor the condition of persons deprived of liberty (PDL)s.

In a ceremony on Friday, the BuCor and the CHR signed a memorandum of agreement to align the Bureau’s programs, policies, and practices with the human rights standards.

Under the MOA, the BuCor and CHR have agreed to take the following measures:

• designate at least one Human Rights Officer in every security compound of each BuCor prison facility;
• develop and implement a special training course for the HROs and other officers and personnel of BuCor to substantially orient/re-orient them of human rights norms, standards, and principles, as well as on the role of BuCor in the prevention of violations and protection of the rights of the PDL; and
• review BuCor’s existing policies, programs, measures, and correctional practices to ensure that they are consistent with human rights norms, standards, and principles

The signatories of the MOA include CHR chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc, CHR commissioner Beda Epres, BuCor director general Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr., and BuCor executive assistant Angelina Bautista, the CHR said. — Joviland Rita/RSJ, GMA Integrated News