CHR, PNP face-off looms over ‘hidden cell’

MANILA, Philippines - A face-off between the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) appears to be brewing after the discovery of a “hidden cell” in the Manila Police District (MPD) Station 1 on Thursday night.

CHR chairman Chito Gascon yesterday rebuked PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa for apparently defending the commander of the station where the hidden cell was discovered behind a cabinet in the drug enforcement unit’s office.

Twelve men and women were found locked up in the cell, which was only five feet wide and with no ventilation except for an exhaust fan. Some have been held in the cell for as long as 10 days, the CHR said.

Some detainees and their relatives said they were told to pay P40,000 to as high as P300,000 for their release.

Gascon told The STAR that Dela Rosa’s statement “further encourages the climate of impunity that perpetuates wrongful action because the wrongdoers are not held accountable.”

Gascon called on the PNP chief not to brush aside the discovery of the hidden detention cell, citing the anti-torture law that prohibits the existence of such facilities.

During a visit to the police station on Friday night, Dela Rosa was quoted as saying that the police did not commit any wrongdoing as regards the facility.

“My policemen are not doing anything foolish,” he said.

He noted that the family of those detained were aware of where their relatives are, and questioned the CHR for conducting the surprise inspection during the leaders’ summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

“As long as the detainee is not hurt and blackmailed, that’s okay with me,” he said in a television interview.

Ignorant

In response, Gascon said Dela Rosa seemed ignorant of both the Constitution and the law by justifying the existence of hidden cells as a necessary measure to address jail congestion.

“I challenge him to undertake a full audit of all places of detention under the control of the PNP to ensure no other cases akin or similar to what was uncovered in MPD Station 1 exists as I am concerned that this may not be an isolated incident,” said the CHR chief.

Gascon urged Dela Rosa to grant their request for a meeting, which he said has been ignored.

He said the meeting may pave way to discussions on how they can explore way and means to guarantee the human rights of every Filipino.

“As to his allusions as to timing, it is best that he do his job as we will too,” he added.

Citing history

International watchdog Human Rights Watch (HRW) yesterday called on the Duterte administration to order a joint investigation by the CHR and the National Bureau of Investigation on the possible existence of more secret detention cells in police stations across the country.

The HRW said the PNP “has long had a horrific record of mistreatment of suspects,” even those who have no standing criminal cases.

The group cited a CHR study in 2015, which concluded that unofficial cells or “lockups” are a common feature in police stations and detainees in Metro Manila “routinely suffer deprivation and neglect with respect to their fundamental human rights. Abuses included failure to document the detention of suspects, illegal detention, torture and overcrowding.”

The HRW also noted the CHR’s discovery of a secret detention facility in Biñan, Laguna in 2014, where police officers used a “wheel of torture” to extract information from detainees on drug trafficking.

The group also cited a viral video showing a police officer yanking a rope tied to a suspect’s genitals during interrogation.

The HRW also called for the immediate release of the 12 detainees held in the secret cell as no charges have been filed against them.

‘Staging area’

National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Oscar Albayalde said what the CHR discovered was not a hidden cell but a “staging area,” a makeshift cell where drug suspects where temporarily detained while waiting for inquest proceedings.

He said the cabinet was only used to block the way so the inmates will not escape.

He belied allegations that the inmates were detained for more than five days, saying they were arrested on April 27 and were told to go out later that day.

Albayalde said the inmates have been transferred to the regular detention facility.

Throwback

Sen. Risa Hontiveros said yesterday the discovery of the secret cell “confirms a dark and open secret: the government’s war on drugs is not based on transparency, civil rights and rehabilitation. It is abusive and exploitative. It is a war against human dignity and the poor.”

She said this is yet another reason for the need to “shift to a more humane, rules-based and public health approach to the drug problem.”

Hontiveros said the secret cell “creates the perfect climate for illegal arrests, enforced disappearances and torture.” – With Emmanuel Tupas, Elizabeth Marcelo, Evelyn Macairan, Robertzon Ramirez, Marvin Sy