Rights manual to guide cops launched

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine National Police announced the strengthening of its human rights arm through the release of a human rights manual that is meant as a guide to every policemen on the field.

The Human Rights Desk Operations Manual was formally launched Wednesday and contains detailed procedures of the duties and responsibilities of all policemen, particularly those on the field.

The PNP has come under attack for human rights violations especially during violent dispersals of protesters.

The recent criticism came during the violent dispersal of “kuliglig” (motorized three-wheeled vehicles different from tricycles) drivers in Manila.

PNP chief Director General Raul Bacalzo said an initial 2,000 copies of the manual were distributed to 1,744 human rights desks in the regional, provincial, and city police offices, including in Metro Manila.

“The manual will further strengthen the PNP Human Rights Desks as an effective human rights monitoring mechanism in the field, and as an internal advocate of human rights,” he said. –Abigail Kwok, INQUIRER.net