“Kasuhan ang dapat kasuhan. Huwag nating
sirain ang buong institusyon,” this is what Senator Alan Peter Cayetano had to
say in reaction to the recent discovery of a secret jail cell in the Raxabago
Police precinct of the Manila Police District.
When asked for his reaction about the issue,
Cayetano said police officials who are proven to commit any form of abuse
should be punished under the rule of law.
“We should not tolerate any abuse… Kung ano
ang batas, kung ano ang regulasyon… Kung pati ang batas, may problema, ayusin
at baguhin natin,” he said in an ambush interview on Tuesday (May 2).
He however clarified that the issue should be
considered as an isolated case. The senator reiterated that it is not the
administration’s policy to tolerate human rights violations, even among alleged
drug personalities.
In fact, the chief of the Tondo police
station and 12 members of the station's Drug Enforcement Unit were already
relieved from their posts following the discovery of the jail cell, Cayetano
noted.
“One violation does not mean it is happening
everywhere and that it is a government policy... Hindi ito-tolerate,
iniimbestigahan ito, and they will be compliant with the world standards of
human rights,” he said.
The senator further asked the public and
administration critics to adopt a more holistic approach when it comes to
defending human rights. He called on the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to
work with the government in ensuring that the human security of all Filipinos,
not just that of alleged drug suspects, is properly protected.
“Hindi natin sinasabi na walang human rights
violations. Ang sinasabi natin, hindi ito State-sponsored, hindi ito systemic,
at hindi ito widespread. Ina-address ito,” he said. #
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