Solons urge Arroyo to sign anti-torture bill into law

Members of the House of Representatives are calling on President Arroyo to sign into law the proposed Anti-Torture Act which was transmitted to Malacañang last Oct.13.

Sorsogon province Rep. Salvador Escudero III said the measure aims to uphold human rights in the country.

“As members of Congress, we consider it as our obligation and responsibility to stop any acts of torture. We owe the citizenry a society free from tyranny, coercion and oppression from anyone or from any quarters in our country,” Escudero said.

The proposal embodied in House Bill 5709 was principally sponsored in the House by Reps. Escudero, Matias Defensor Jr. (3rd District, Quezon City), Lorenzo Tañada III (4th District, Quezon province), the late Guillermo Cua (Coop-Natcco party-list group), Edcel Lagman (1st District., Albay province), Saturnino Ocampo and Teodoro Casino (both of the party-list group Bayan Muna), Liza Maza and Luzviminda Ilagan (both of the Gabriela women’s party-list) and Narciso Santiago III (of the Alliance for Rural Concerns party-list).

In pressing for the enactment of the bill, the lawmakers noted that the Philippines is a signatory to the Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

Human rights violations in the country, including those allegedly committed by the military and police, such as torture, summary executions of criminal suspects and the abduction of left-leaning activists shall be punished more severely under the bill.

Acts of torture under the bill are classified as acts constituting physical torture such as systematic beating, food deprivation, electric shock, cigarette burning and rape, among others, while mental and psychological torture refers to acts such as blindfolding, prolonged interrogation, maltreating a member or members of a person’s family and denial of sleep, among others

Section 6 of HB 5709 provides that torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment is a criminal act and shall apply to all circumstances.

Another salient provision in the bill states: “A state of war or a threat of war, internal political instability, or any other public emergency, or a document or any determination comprising an ‘order of battle’ (crafted by the government security agencies such as the military and the police) shall not and cannot be invoked as a justification for torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment.”

The bill also seeks for life imprisonment to be meted on any person guilty of the following acts: Torture resulting in the death of any person; torture resulting in mutilation; torture with rape and other forms of sexual abuse, when the victim has become insane, impotent, blind or maimed for life; and torture committed against children. –Charlie V. Manalo, Daily Tribune