EDITORIAL - Little progress

Nearly 26 years after Filipinos threw out a dictator and restored democracy, state security forces continue to be taken to task for their human rights record. Retired Army Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan is on the run, wanted for the torture and disappearance of two students of the University of the Philippines. Scores of police and paramilitary personnel are still being hunted down in connection with the Maguindanao massacre in 2009.

In its World Report 2012, Human Rights Watch said the Aquino administration has made little progress in ending impunity in rights abuses. The human rights watchdog counted at least seven killings and three enforced disappearances that could be attributed to state forces since President Aquino assumed power. The group also prodded the administration to dismantle the paramilitary “force multipliers” whose continued deployment is supported by the Armed Forces of the Philippines. AFP officials have assured the public that they keep a tight rein on the militias, a number of whom are utilized by political warlords as part of their private armies.

Systematic violations of human rights ended with the collapse of the Marcos dictatorship, but the restoration of democracy did not end murders, disappearances and cases of torture attributed to government forces. A year ago, video footage apparently taken by mobile phone showed Manila policemen torturing a crime suspect. Another footage showed soldiers also engaged in torture.

The best way to stop such abuses is to punish the perpetrators. This is where the only son of two democracy icons has been found wanting. The Philippines continues to be ranked among the top five worst countries in terms of impunity in rights abuses. Failure to bring human rights violators to justice is the biggest factor in nurturing that im-punity. The administration needs to do more in addressing this problem. As Human Rights Watch pointed out, the President will be judged not by his avowed intentions but by what his administration has actually achieved.