RP scored for not reporting actions vs. torture

MANILA, Philippines –  The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) castigated the Philippines for its failure over the past 20 years to fulfill its obligation of submitting periodic reports on measures undertaken to implement the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and for Congress’ sitting on the Anti-Torture bill.

The Philippine delegation, led by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, gave the UNHRC Committee Against Torture “unsatisfactory” replies to questions raised by Committee Experts on the periodic report on how the country is implementing the provisions of the Convention against Torture.

As one of the 146 states party to the Convention against Torture, the Philippines is obliged to provide the Committee with periodic reports on the measures it has undertaken to fight torture.

The Philippines, currently vice-president of the Human Rights Council, blamed “national and international, natural and man-made challenges” it faced that resulted in the 20-year gap in reporting.

The delegation also cited many political issues holding up the passage of the Anti-Torture bill.

The Philippines, the delegation said, is faced with a major Communist insurgency and a Muslim secessionist movement in the South, both of which had presented threats to national security.

Ermita also said the Philippines had the scourge of local terrorism, specifically by the Abu Sayaf group, which has ties to foreign terrorist organizations.

But he said “such challenges had never distracted the Government from fulfilling its sovereign duty to promote and protect human rights.”

With regards to the Anti-Torture bill that has been with Congress for 10 years now, the delegation said there were many political issues holding up the bill’s passage.

Serving as Rapporteur for the report of the Philippines, Committee Expert Felice Gaer regretted that while the Philippines had been one of the first countries to report to the Committee, it had been 20 years since the country had last reported.

Gaer wondered how the challenges of armed and terrorist threats had affected the country’s legislation.

She said that information given to the Committee showed that safeguards against the use of torture were not enforced in practice, and there was a broad record of ill-treatment in the period between arrest and detention.

The information available showed that arrested persons have no possibility to seek counsel immediately after arrest. –Pia Lee Brago, Philippine Star