A SENIOR opposition lawmaker on Thursday asked the House of Representatives to investigate the secret detention cells allegedly maintained by the National Police as part of the so-called war against prohibited drugs.
Liberal Party Rep. Teodoro Baguilat Jr. of Ifugao called for the investigation following the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) discovery of an illegal detention cell at the Raxabago Police Station in Tondo, Manila, on April 27. Policemen allegedly held drug suspects in the secret cell area until they pay P40,000 to P200,000 for their freedom.
“The secret detention cell has been described in news reports and depicted in published photographs as a narrow, windowless room with a lone urinal at one end, and which, at the time of its discovery by the CHR, had its lone entryway blocked by a bookshelf,” Baguilat said.
Following the discovery by the CHR, Metro Manila police commander Director Oscar Albayalde relieved the Raxabago Police Station commander, Supt. Robert Domingo, and the 12-man antidrugs unit headed by Senior Insp. Edwin Fuggan, in order to pave the way for an impartial investigation into the matter. Baguilat said Albayalde’s relief order is proof that the National Police leadership knew that the maintenance of the hidden detention cells was irregular and deserves to be investigated.
However, Director General Ronald M. dela Rosa, National Police chief, said that “as long as the detainees were not tortured or extorted, it’s okay with me”. Baguilat said the maintenance of secret cells violates Article III Section 12 (2) of the Constitution, which provides that, “[s]ecret detention places, solitary, incommunicado, or other similar forms of detention are prohibited”.
Baguilat also said Republic Act 9745, otherwise known as the Anti-Torture Act of 2009, provides in part that “secret detention places, solitary confinement, incommunicado or other similar forms of detention, where torture may be carried out with impunity, are hereby prohibited”.
“The conflicting statements of the police leadership, especially the statements of Director General dela Rosa, indicate either an ignorance of, or disrespect for, the law, both of which are inexcusable for the chief protector of the Filipino people,” Baguilat’s resolution said.
He said the investigation is aimed at looking into secret detention cells and the state of detention areas in police stations. “There is still the presumption of innocence and suspects are still guaranteed inalienable rights, including the right against torture or arbitrary detention,” Baguilat added.
Group hits National Police for defending secret cells
THE human-rights watchdog Karapatan has condemned the National Police “for initially criticizing the existence of secret jails in Tondo, Manila, only to make an about-face later and claim that there was nothing wrong with them”.
In a statement, Karapatan said: “Despite the anti-torture and anti-enforced disappearance laws, illegal arrest, torture and detention continue, as exemplified in the recent discovery of a secret police detention cell in Tondo, with unlisted detainees, in line with the war on drugs,” Karapatan Secretary-General Cristina Palabay said.
“We condemn this practice of maintaining and using ‘secret cells,’ along with practices of illegal arrests and torture. We demand accountability from all those involved, as well as those police officials who continue to justify such crass human rights violations,” Palabay added.