The Philippine Online Chronicles

Philippine National Police director general Raul Bacalzo pointed to the police force's military roots as possible reason why policemen have been reportedly involved in extrajudicial killings in the country.

In a human rights forum at Camp Crame attended by Justice Secretary Leila De Lima and delegation from the European Union (EU), Bacalzo said that “somehow, there were dysfunctions developed over the years” of the PNP's “long history.”

Bacalzo said that there were “birth pains when PNP was formed in 1991.”

The organization, then called the Philipppine Constabulary, was formed under the American occupation in 1901, was militarized in 1936, and renamed as the PNP in 1991 with the passage of RA 6975 (Department of Interior and Local Government Act of 1990).

However, Bacalzo noted that “Through our programs, particularly our transformation program, we are laying down the foundations. I can say the police now are more HR-aware. They are now familiar with the procedures.”

De Lima said there were improvements for human rights in the country. She said that from 178 cases of extrajudicial killings before President Benigno Aquino III assumed office, there have since been eight convictions, with 59 still being tried, 64 dismissed, and another 44 cases archived for lack of evidence.

Malacañang has described the report of the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) which noted the government's alleged failure to address unexplained killings and enforced disappearances, as “wrong”.

“We don’t countenance extrajudicial killings. The numbers (figures, statistics) they are giving are those from the previous (administration) and are integrated and summed up to those that fell on our term,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said.

“I think they don’t understand the importance this administration is giving to human rights. This is very important for the president, and this is a symbol that we respect the human rights of everybody,” the spokesperson added.

Head of the EU delegation Ambassador Guy Ledoux said he is satisfied with the current records as extrajudicial killings in the first year of PNoy's administration was 90 cases, compared to former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's record of around 139 cases every year.

The EU also gave P600 million to the government to help curb political killings in the country.

“I believe that some breakthroughs have been made,” Ledoux said. “I nourish strong hopes that the major efforts made by the various stakeholders with our support will soon result in an increase in convictions of gunmen and masterminds of extralegal killings and enforced disappearances.”