Police claim of using ‘plastic bullets’ absurd, says CHR chief

MANILA, Philippines—The police’s claim that they used “plastic bullets” in quelling Monday’s riot at the Silverio Compound in Parañaque City was “absurd” because somebody was killed, Commission on Human Rights Chair Loretta Ann Rosales said Tuesday.

The CHR will ask the Philippine National Police to submit a list of the  policemen involved as part of its “full-blown’’ investigation, said Rosales, who disclosed that the police received a bigger number of human rights complaints than the military, rebels and paramilitary groups  from July 2010 to March this year.

Rosales observed several violations of the PNP rules of engagement, and said the possession of firearms and the actual firing of guns were a big no-no in  demolitions.

“Somebody died. So the claim of the chief of police that they used plastic bullets is an absurdity. I didn’t know plastic bullets could kill,” she told reporters.

At least one died and scores of others were hurt when the police tried to serve a court order for the demolition of stalls in a flea market inside the compound, but faced resistance from residents who hurled rocks and molotov cocktails at them.

Within hours of the rioting, Rosales instructed director Gilbert Boyser of the National Capital Region to investigate possible excessive use of force by the policemen that resulted in violation of the residents’ rights.

“As best as possible they will not use force. They will keep distance. They will use force when necessary, when harm is going to be inflicted on innocent lives,” Rosales said.

The first order of the day for the CHR investigating team would be to identify the policemen who took part in the operation, Rosales said.

“We’ll ask for a list of those people who were involved, the possible suspects in the violence that took place.… We saw it on TV. They’ve arrested the residents, and yet they were still hitting them. They were so mad at the residents,” she said.

Rosales said she would write PNP  Director General Nicanor Bartolome and Supt. Guinto to ask for the agency’s “full cooperation” in the CHR investigation.

“They should not see this as a mere local effort. They should see this as a sad expression of the state of affairs among the security sector, especially the police. They should never make excuses that this is a small matter. No matter how small it is, they violated the law,” she said.

As part of the investigation, the CHR planned to initiate a “dialogue” among all the parties. “We’ve done this thing, and we found it to be effective. As I’ve said it before, when you make social preparations, you can prevent violence,” she said.

In its human rights report, the CHR recorded 235 complaints against the police from the time President Benigno Aquino assumed office in July 2010 until March this year, 84 against the military, and 77 against the communist and secessionist rebels, paramilitary groups, and other armed groups.

The bulk of the complaints against the police were illegal arbitrary arrest and detention; hazing, physical injuries, abuse and cruelty; torture; murder, frustrated murder, killing and salvaging; violence against women, harassment and rape.

“This is a complete manifestation of the state of affairs of the police in terms of human rights compliance with the rules of engagement,” Rosales said, referring to the violent demolition in relation to the rights complaints against the police.