CHR: We are in close touch with PNP’s, AFP’s human rights officers

QUEZON CITY, September 2 (PIA) — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is in active coordination with the Human Rights Affairs Officers (HRAOs) of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines in its directive to reject violence, particularly hazing.

“Reports are submitted to us. When the class from Camp Eldridge sent us a video footage of the hazing incident,of course, they did not indicate their names, I immediately showed it to PNP Human Rights Affairs Office head Chief Supt. Clarence Guinto, before I called the media, so that he (Guinto) will be aware of the things happening on the ground, and he will be able to make internal processes or mechanisms, and then we do ours. I told him I will disclose it to the media and to DILG Chief Supt. Jesse Robredo.”

This was shared by CHR chairperson Loretta Ann Rosales in today’s Communication and News Exchange (CNEX) forum held at the Philippine Information Agency.

According to Rosales, the agencies of the government have their own mechanisms to inculcate human rights, and CHR ensures that the reports being submitted to its office are discussed with these agencies concerned.

“For the CHR, perhaps, it is not so much saying that we need good image before the international community so that the investments can come in, although that’s important, I don’t think it is the primary reason. We have to do this, we have to correct this hazing and all the crimes committed because it is our responsibility as duty bearers to the Filipino people,” said Rosales.

Rosales said hazing is not new, “it had already happened in the past.” If not for the hazing video footage submitted by the cadets and trainees from Camp Eldridge, she added, the case will not be disclosed and given due process.

“The media is there to help disseminate the information. The CHR helps in monitoring and processes. But the principal thing that PNP and AFP should do is internal reform,” Rosales added.

She also said that “No to Hazing” directive was out as early as April this year, but the hazing activities did not stop that was why it was found out that the problem is internal.

Rosales announced, however, that it is good that there are already ongoing preliminary investigations in coordination with CHR at Camp Eldridge, Laguna. This means that victims had become emboldened by the promise of justice and reform. (MYQ/PCCC-PIA GHQ)