CHR hails filing of bills to protect well-being of detained Filipinos

Commission on Human Rights INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said on Thursday that the filing of bills pushing to establish the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) highlights the importance of protecting the well-being of Filipinos in detention centers.

NPM is a measure intended to eliminate torture and other forms of cruel or unusual punishment in custodial facilities across the Philippines.

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In a statement, the CHR emphasized that, “the proposed legislation signifies a crucial step towards addressing the conditions of persons deprived of liberty, which may potentially amount to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, or even torture.”

“The filing of the bills—Senate Bill (SB) No. 2522, SB 2486, House Bill (HB) No. 08780, HB 06305, and HB 08933—further reinforce this commitment and underscores the importance of safeguarding the dignity and well-being of all individuals, especially those in situations of vulnerability,” it added.

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The commission also thanked legislators who sponsored the bills, particularly Senators Manuel “Lito”  Lapid, Francis  Tolentino, Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, and Representatives Bienvenido Abante and Rufus Rodriguez.

According to the CHR, the proposed bills “hold the promise of not only fulfilling our international obligations but also of instituting a robust framework for preventive monitoring visits to all places of deprivation of liberty to include mental health institutions and youth rehabilitation facilities.”

It also emphasized that addressing issues related to potential mistreatment or abuse is not just a legal obligation but also a moral imperative.

This also promotes a culture of accountability and respect for human rights in the country, the CHR added.

“We urge all stakeholders to support this important legislative endeavor and to work towards the prompt enactment of the NPM bill to signify our collective commitment to the protection and promotion of human rights for all individuals under our care and custody, especially against torture and cruel inhuman degrading treatment or punishment,” the CHR said.

The establishment of NPM is in compliance with the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT), the commission noted.

“Having acceded to the OPCAT since 17 April 2012, the government is mandated to establish a National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) through legislation,” it explained.

The CHR added that in 2016, it also aimed at creating an interim NPM (INPM) to convince the government to adhere to the mentioned convention and its optional protocol.