No public presentation of crime suspects – DILG

CEBU, Philippines - Arrested crime suspects who have not yet been formally charged will not be presented in public starting Monday unless the suspects or their lawyers allow it.

Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas issued the directive to the police yesterday upon the recommendation of PNP Chief Alan Purisima following the arrest of Marsibal Abduhadi, alleged gunman in the murder of Maconacon, Isabela Mayor Erlinda Somingo.

Roxas said the policy was meant to avoid accusations of human rights violations.

“We need to balance the right of the public to know alongside the rights of the accused,” Roxas said. “This is a new regulation, and we will formally issue it this Monday,” he added.

He said the new policy will be finalized by the DILG, Department of Justice, PNP and National Bureau of Investigation.

There have been attempts during past administrations to implement a similar policy but the practice of police publicly presenting suspects soon after they are arrested has persisted, a practice that can tarnish the reputations of those eventually found innocent.

Perhaps the most noted case of an innocent person being presented in public as a suspect is that of Acsa Ramirez, the Land Bank of the Philippines employee who blew the whistle on P432-million tax scam.

When the suspects were presented to the public by no less than then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who had ordered a “shame campaign” against criminals, Ramirez was identified as one of those who had pulled off the scam.

Although the error was immediately reported by media, criminal charges were filed against Ramirez. She was eventually cleared of the charges in February 2003 by the Office of the Ombudsman and Arroyo eventually apologized to her in August that same year.

Roxas said requests for interviews with accused persons may be coursed through their lawyers, but only after the police have completed their investigation.

The suspects will be presented publicly only during public inquest and other legal proceedings. (FREEMAN)