Aquino gov’t won’t tolerate human rights abuses

MANILA, Philippines—The Aquino administration is taking steps to curb human rights violations, Malacañang said on Saturday.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte made that assertion in reaction to an Amnesty International report that human rights violations continued in the Philippines nearly a year after President Aquino assumed office.

“If there are those that are bent on doing something criminal, there really would be things likes these. But it doesn’t mean we’re not taking steps to decrease (rights violations) and prosecute those responsible for these crimes,” Valte said over the government-run radio station dzRB.

“There’s also the CHR and on the side of the executive were taking steps to ensure that there is certainty of punishment…. We don’t tolerate human rights violations under the Aquino administration,” she added.