OCTOBER 20, 2016
PRESS STATEMENT
CHR condemns violent dispersal, will conduct own investigation
The Commission strongly condemns the violence that erupted during the rally conducted along Roxas Boulevard in front of the US Embassy. The Commission expresses serious concerns over videos posted online and reported by various media outlets which show a police vehicle running over the protesters several times injuring a number of persons. Footages also reveal policemen who were running after the protesters as their jeepneys were moving away from the demonstrations. Policemen were seen dragging a driver out of the vehicle and hitting him with their truncheons. These are matters of concern which require immediate investigation from the ranks of the PNP, from the oversight executive agencies, and from the Commission. The Police Operations Manual was not followed, especially when Senior Supt. Marcelino Pedrozo of the Manila Police District (MPD) was caught on video castigating his men for not fighting, and for not arresting the protesters, thereby fueling further an already charged situation.
We remind the Philippine National Police that the right to organize and petition the government for redress of grievances is constitutionally enshrined. The police authorities have the duty to protect this sacred right as enshrined in our Constitution.
We remind them of their own PNP Operations Procedures which clearly states that the PNP, in handling rallies and demonstrations, adheres to the Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations which requires them to “respect and protect human dignity, maintain and uphold the human rights of all persons, and limit the use of force to situations where it is strictly necessary and to the extent required for the performance of their duty.”
The requirement under BP 880 and its jurisprudence on ‘maximum tolerance’ which the law defines as “the highest degree of restraint that the military, police and other peace keeping authorities shall observe during a public assembly or in the dispersal of the same” must be adhered to. We also remind the PNP of the basic principles on the use of force – which is the rule of proportionality and necessity.
Attention of the protesters must also be called that they should show respect to police authorities whose duty is to serve and protect the citizenry. Likewise, every protest must be conducted peaceably and in an orderly manner.
With reports showing that both the policemen and protesters were injured as a result of yesterday’s rally and dispersal, we also take this occasion to remind protesters to show respect to police authorities in their exercise of their right to peaceably assemble. The Commission calls on the PNP to conduct its investigation and to hold everyone accountable for those violent acts. It is the responsibility of the State to investigate and mete out penalties when violations occur. The Commission, for its part, will conduct its independent motu propio investigation and we will afford everyone the opportunity to be heard on this matter.
Contact Person:
Atty. Jacqueline Ann C. de Guia
OIC, Public Affairs and Strategic Communications Office
Telephone No: (02) 528-5792 / 09175919833
Email address: comms.chr@gmail.com