PNP open to human rights probe over alleged police violence, illegal arrests during SONA protests

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said it is open to a possible investigation by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) regarding allegations of police violence and illegal arrests during protests held in connection with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s State of the Nation Address (SONA).

PNP chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. responded to reports that several human rights and people's organizations had urged the CHR to conduct an independent probe into the alleged police abuses and the arrest of 51 protesters.

“The PNP will always be open, lalong-lalo na iyan ay sa CHR. That is deemed necessary for us to make some adjustment or maparusahan ang dapat maparusahan,” Nartatez said at a press briefing.

(The PNP will always be open, especially in the CHR. That is deemed necessary for us to make some adjustments or those who should be punished will be punished.)

“The recent arrests of 51 who were arrested. They were inquested or referred to the proper court and doon na lang natin titignan if there were violations that were committed but we're okay. But we're firm with the arrests,” he added.

(The recent arrests of 51 who were arrested. They underwent inquest or referred to the proper court and we will see if there were violations that were committed but we're okay. But we're firm with the arrests.)

Earlier, several human rights advocates urged the CHR to investigate alleged police violence during the SONA 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. —RF, GMA News