MAY 29, 2009 

CHR CHAIRPERSON TO PNP-QCPD:
“KNOW HUMAN RIGHTS BY HEART”  

“KNOW HUMAN RIGHTS BY HEART,” this statement is more than a slogan and battle cry of the Commission on Human Rights Chairperson Atty. Leila M. De Lima as the head of the independent constitutional body scheduled a whole day human rights training-seminar to PNP-QCPD officials and personnel tomorrow.

Titled “The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Human Rights Seminar”, the program is expected to draw more than one hundred (100) participants from the different divisions of the police specially those assigned to the frontlines. Recently, the QCPD continue to land in the pages of the newspapers as QCPD operatives were involved in various human rights cases one after the other.

“Time and again, I have been very vocal with my pronouncements that we really need to have an indoctrination of sort on the appreciation of human rights not only by the PNP organization but also the AFP and the entire government bureaucracy. The knowledge of human rights will be a key factor to be able to deal with people especially in highly-tensed situations such as rallies, nabbing incident, etc., the CHR Chief said.

The QCPD operatives had been involved in controversial cases involving violations of human rights such as the alleged shootout in the NIA-EDSA, the Trina Etong case, and most recently, the incident of the lady reporter from UNTV, to name a few. The cases are being investigated by the rights body.

Chairperson De Lima added that for one, dealing with people who are stressed and in distress is already a skill in itself; handling it with care is an added bonus. This is what the PNP should have in mind since they must be able to live up with the people’s expectation as the “people’s protector.” They are not ordinary citizens because they have the guns, the authority to apprehend, and as such they have no right to go overboard and be overhanded and excessive in their actuations.

According to the Chair, although she believes that there are still many commendable people in the PNP, rude behavior is altogether unacceptable since the PNP is still part of the government and as such should serve the people with utmost courtesy and respect just like any other government official and employee.

The developments have also prompted the CHR Chief to have the CHR human rights education course for PNP and AFP reviewed and make adjustments necessary to the present situation.

Interesting topics on the whole day training will revolve on the Human Rights of the People, Roles and Rights of Media in the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, Police Authority And their Obligations on the Human Rights of the People, Police Operations vis-a-vis The Philippine Political Spectrum. Topping the activity will be the much-awaited dialogue between the QCPD and the CHR Chairperson.

Asked on what questions would the PNP-QCPD officers and personnel would probably bring to her attention, the CHR 4 th Commission top head slowly shakes her head with a smile and said, “I think I have some idea but I will just see what happens in the dialogue.”