Phl probing only few human rights cases – US report

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine government continued to investigate and prosecute only a limited number of reported human rights abuses, and concerns about impunity persisted, according to the latest annual US Department of State human rights country report.

Based on the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012 released last April 19, leading human rights problems in the Philippines were arbitrary, unlawful, and extrajudicial killings by national, provincial, and local government agents and by antigovernment insurgents; an underresourced and understaffed justice system that resulted in limited investigations, few prosecutions, and lengthy trials of human rights abuse cases; and widespread corruption and abuse of power.

Other human rights problems included allegations of prisoner torture and abuse by security forces; violence and harassment against leftist, labor, and human rights activists by security forces; disappearances; warrantless arrests; lengthy pretrial detentions; overcrowded and inadequate prison conditions; killings and harassment of journalists; internally displaced persons; violence against women; local government restrictions on the provision of birth-control supplies; abuse and sexual exploitation of children; trafficking in persons; limited access to facilities for persons with disabilities; lack of full integration of indigenous people; absence of law and policy to protect persons from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity; suspected vigilante killings; child labor; and ineffective enforcement of workers’ rights.

The report, which assesses human rights conditions in 199 countries, was transmitted to the US Congress.

The report said that security forces committed arbitrary and unlawful killings, including combat operations between government forces and Muslim rebels in parts of Mindanao. –Pia Lee-Brago (The Philippine Star)