‘Killings, corruption top HR problems in Phl’

MANILA, Philippines - Unexplained killings, dysfunctional criminal justice system, widespread corruption and abuse of power remain to be the most significant human rights problems in the Philippines, according to the latest US State Department annual human rights country report released yesterday.

The 2013 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, however, cited the May 13 mid-term national elections and Oct. 28 barangay elections as generally free and fair, although independent observers noted that vote buying was widespread.

“Dynastic political families continued to monopolize elective offices at the national and local level,” the report said.

Security forces also committed human rights abuses, it added.

Other human rights problems cited in the annual report were allegations of prisoner/detainee torture and abuses by security forces, violence and harassment against human rights activists, disappearances, warrantless arrests, lengthy pretrial detentions, overcrowded and inadequate prison conditions, killings and harassment of journalists and internally displaced persons, violence against women, abuse and sexual exploitation of children; Trafficking in persons, limited access to facilities for persons with disabilities, lack of full integration of indigenous people, absence of law and policy to protect persons from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, suspected vigilante killings, child labor and ineffective enforcement of workers’ rights.

The report said the government continued to investigate and prosecute only a limited number of reported human rights abuses and concerns about impunity persisted.