MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / June 26, 2013) – Human rights advocates have called on Philippine President Benigno Aquino to make the country a “torture-free” zone.
To make the Philippines a torture free zone, the United Against Torture Coalition-Philippines said there is a need to ensure that all authorities, including jail staff, are fully aware of the Anti-Torture Law and to report
violations instead of tolerating it.
“While we laud the government on the enactment of the Anti-Torture Law or Republic Act No. 9745 in November 2009, but it has so far been implemented without diligence and effectiveness since many torture allegations have not been effectively investigated by authorities and detainees who are in custody do not have immediate access to legal and medical services,” Ernesto Anasarias, Executive Director of Balay Rehabilitation Center and UATC spokesperson, said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.
He said while noting that many government agencies have a mandate to investigate complaints of torture and ill-treatment, the UATC is concerned at the high number of complaints of torture and ill-treatment by law enforcement officials, the limited number of investigations carried out by the government in such cases, and the very limited number of convictions in those cases which are investigated.
The group also reiterated its concerns on the increasing complaints in relation to the implementation of the Anti-Torture Law which has revealed various different deficiencies from documentation, investigation to prosecution of torture cases, which embolden perpetrators in doing acts of torture.
“The authorities’ partiality not to comply with the Anti-Torture Law runs in the institutional impunity we have right now. Take the recent case where Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, including a senior police officer, interrogated a rape suspect in full view of the public, as Mayor Lim extracted a confession and forced the suspect to admit he had raped a woman, clearly violated the Anti-Torture Law,” Max de Mesa, Chairperson of the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates, said.
He said there is a necessity for the Aquino government to publicly announce a clear policy of total elimination of all acts of torture.
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