Rights advocates ask CHR to probe alleged police violence during protests

Several human rights advocates on Friday asked the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to investigate alleged police violence during recent protest actions, citing what they described as continuing attacks on civil liberties and the right to peaceful assembly.

In a letter addressed to CHR chairperson Richard Palpal-Latoc, the groups urged the constitutional body to look into incidents of alleged police abuses committed during public demonstrations.

The letter was signed by representatives of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), Karapatan, the National Union of People's Lawyers (NUPL), and the Alyansa Laban sa Korupsyon at Brutalidad ng Pulis.

“In light of the continuing attacks on the people’s civil liberties, we ask your office to investigate the incidents of police violence mentioned in this letter,” it said.

They urged the CHR to call on the government to end the alleged practice of “unlawful imposition of restrictions on peaceful assemblies" and ensure that law enforcement officials comply with international human rights standards.

Aside from this, the groups also called for the end of the filing of baseless charges against activists, protesters, and human rights defenders.

“We likewise request that your office remind the Philippine Government of its obligations under international human rights law to respect, protect, and facilitate the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association, and to ensure accountability for violations committed by law enforcement personnel,” the letter said.

Among the incidents, the groups said 51 individuals were illegally arrested during the State of the Nation Address on July 27. Of the number, they said nine remain detained at Camp Karingal.

According to Karapatan, the detainees were brought to separate rooms and interrogated without their counsel by individuals who identified as members of the NUPL and the CHR.

The groups said this constitutes psychological torture.

“Subjecting detainees to coercive interrogation, intimidation, and psychological pressure—particularly in the absence of counsel—violates both domestic law and the Philippines' obligations under international human rights standards protecting persons deprived of their liberty,” the letter read.

They also detailed incidents of police allegedly threatening to disperse and arrests activists, arresting individuals who were in the vicinity of the protest, and attempting to drive through protesters who were blocking a bus carrying arrested activists.

The groups expressed hope that the CHR can assist the arrested activists.

GMA News Online is trying to reach out to the Philippine National Police for its side. —LDF, GMA News