CHR says reward fund ineffective

The Commission on Human Rights said Thursday that it was unsure about efficacy of the P25-million reward fund to counter political killings, even as a Cabinet member argued that money was a good incentive.

Earlier Tuesday, President Gloria Arroyo announced the creation of a special fund, from which monetary rewards would be given to informants of human rights crimes.

But Commission Chairman Leila de Lima said, “I am ordinarily cold to ideas of financial incentives when it comes to addressing human-rights violations.”

“But it could be useful,” she added. “I must stress that human rights cases are different from corruption cases or ordinary crimes. Human rights witnesses are not motivated by money but justice.”

De Lima also said, “Witnesses don’t cooperate and give information because of fear of retaliation, or distrust, [or they are] wary of slow justice system.”

So instead, the chairman urged government—including the police and the Department of Justice—to expedite the resolution of cases, as seeing the guilty punishes would motivate people to come out and give information to the authorities.

She added that more money also helps. “Funds can very well apply to operations, supplement more funds for prosecutors, hire additional lawyers and paralegals. More importantly, strengthen witness protection program.”

The Commission could also use supplemental budgets, like the extrajudicial killings fund allotted in 2007. “The recommendations of [UN Rapporteur Philip] Alston and Melo Commission are along these lines. I also agree with Senator [Francis] Escudero’s view that resolution of EJK [extrajudicial killings] cases, especially the high-profile ones, entails serious intelligence work. The investigative skills and forensic capacity of CHR investigators need to be enhanced.”

Go for the money

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro backed the reward fund ordered by Malacañang to help stop political killings, saying it could be effective.

“I am in favor [of the reward],” he said. “We really need to convince the witnesses to surface, because it is not only unfair to us but to the victims as well.”

The military and other state forces have often been blamed for most the human-rights abuses in the Philippines. But the government has repeatedly denied this. Teodoro said the resolution of the cases would also help repair the reputation of the military.

Human rights groups claim that more than 900 persons have been killed, including known critics of the administration since President took over the government in 2001.

Teodoro said he hopes the initiative works. “Not only is there an appeal to your civic duty to testify but . . . [also] an appeal to your [material] needs.”
–Ira Karen Apanay And Jefferson Antiporda, Manila Times