Aquino administration has implemented various initiatives to uphold human rights in the country -- Malacanang

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 10): Aquino administration has implemented various initiatives to uphold human rights in the country -- Malacanang

The Aquino administration has implemented various initiatives to uphold the human rights of every individual, a Palace official said on Monday. In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda laid out these initiatives since President Benigno S. Aquino III assumed office on June 30, 2010.

 The Armed Forces of the Philippines launched its Human Rights/International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Handbook as part of the government’s effort to institutionalize human rights concepts in August, 2010. The handbook serves as a soldiers’ guide during the conduct of operations. The freeing of the so-called Morong 43 in December, 2010 was another significant development that occurred during the tenure of President Aquino. The Morong 43 is a group of 43 health workers in the Philippines accused of cooperating with the New People's Army in efforts to destabilize the government.

"The President ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) to withdraw the information filed before the court, which, in effect and subject to court approval, freed the 43, as they who have no other standing warrants in other courts," Lacierda said. Lacierda quoted President Aquino as saying that “human rights has to be universal, has to be for everyone. When one’s rights are violated, you set the groundwork for violating everybody’s rights—so all includes our security forces, our peasantry, those below the poverty line, and those who have more in this life."

In December, 2010, the AFP has established the Human Rights Office which serves as the main platform for addressing all human rights and international humanitarian law issues involving the Armed Forces. The recent designation of General Domingo Tutaan as head of the office has further strengthened its capabilities, Lacierda said.

The Philippine National Police has also crafted a Human Rights Desk Operations Manual in December 2010. The manual provides information and operational procedures to police personnel manning the PNP Human Rights Desks. "Handbooks have also been prepared for regional police offices and media organizations as guides in light of the risks they face in the conduct of their duties," he added.

On December 10, 2010, the DOJ created a Special Task Force on Extrajudicial Killings and Enforced Disappearances the Special Task Force is mandated to review all reported and unresolved cases of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances and recommend measures for and cause the effective and expeditious investigation and prosecution of the cases. The task force is also mandated to speed up the prosecution and resolution of cases with sufficient evidence and cause the reopening of investigations of “cold file” cases.

"In the U.S. State Department's 2011 Trafficking in Persons Report, the Philippines has been upgraded to Tier 2 ," Lacierda said, adding that the upgrade can be attributed to the initiatives of the Philippine government in addressing human trafficking. "The DOJ has achieved a total of 74 convictions (cases) of Illegal Recruitment involving 89 persons since 2003, with 45 convictions (61 percent of all convictions secured) recorded during the Aquino Administration," Lacierda stressed.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) assisted all 2,082 victims of trafficking who sought help from the government from January 2010 to March 2012. The department provided 1,067 victims with community-based services including rescue, counseling, financial assistance, skills training, auxiliary services, temporary shelter, and legal assistance through the Recovery and Reintegration Program for Trafficked Persons. The DSWD likewise assisted the other 1,015 victims through residential care centers/institutions such as the Haven for Women and Children.

In June, 2012, the PNP-Task Force USIG has recorded 41 validated cases of slain media practitioners and 125 validated cases of slain activists since 2001. "Of these cases, 103 have been filed in court, 62 are under investigation, and one case has been dropped due to the demise of the suspect," he said.

In November 2012, President Aquino signed Administrative Order No. 35, creating the Inter-agency committee on extra-legal killing, enforced disappearances, torture and other grave violations of the right to life and security of persons. The inter-agency committee is tasked to conduct an inventory of all human rights violations perpetrated by state and non-state forces and to prioritize the unsolved cases for action, and assign special investigation teams to conduct further investigation on these cases for the possible identification of the perpetrators. The committee is also mandated to monitor and report cases under investigation, preliminary investigation and trial and investigate and prosecute new cases. "Every six months, the Committee shall submit a report to the President detailing its progress, accomplishment, as well as their recommendations," Lacierda said.

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