Roxas reminds CHR both militants and police have human rights

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 1): Roxas reminds CHR both militants and police have human rights

Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is now on a hot seat after Interior and Local Government Sec. Mar Roxas on Friday reminded them that police also have human rights. “Police are also entitled to human rights,’ said Roxas in an interview when he was asked about his thoughts when militants stormed the office of National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC).

Roxas said that it is very clear in the video taken by television networks that members of the cause oriented groups who climb the steel posts started hitting the few policemen inside the compound. He said that the video speaks for itself that policemen exercised maximum tolerance by not retaliating despite bruises and contusions they suffered. “Yung isang pulis nga nakahiga na pinagtulungan pa at hinayaan muna ng mga kasama nilang aktibista na magulpi bago umawat,” Roxas stressed.

According to the DILG secretary, the video which was shown on public television a clear evidence that members of the Quezon City police who were sent to maintain peace and order were the one hurt.

Another incident he said is the attempt of militants to take away the armalite riffle of a policeman who is guarding the guns of crowd dispersal unit. Luckily, the gun was not taken and possible bloodshed was prevented.

He said it is high time to show to the public that CHR is not only for cause oriented group but to all human beings whose human rights were violated. “Police are also human and they must enjoy the same treatment with their counterparts. The video showed a clear assault on persons in authority,” he said as he raised the issue that CHR must prove that they are not investigating only for militants.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=493336