UN exec hits police brutality during lockdown

MANILA, Philippines — A UN special rapporteur has criticized what she described as excessive use of force by law enforcement officials at a time when most countries are under quarantine.

In an online webinar organized by EcuVoice Philippines, an alliance of human rights and peace organizations, UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions Agnes Callamard cited the dangers of over-reliance on law enforcement to help stem the spread of the coronavirus disease.

“For the last three months, I have been receiving alarming reports that demonstrate people are more vulnerable to police violence in times of COVID-19,” Callamard said, speaking in broad, global terms.

When it came to the Philippines, Callamard noted that since the country already had a history of law enforcement abuses, the declaration of a state of public health emergency could embolden them to act with excessive force.

“Even in a state of emergency, the right to life is nonderogable. Law enforcement should be guided by human rights principles. In countries like the Philippines, law enforcement is already acting beyond international law and allowing the use of force, so you can only imagine what those additional powers are during the state of emergency,” she said.

The webinar, which came ahead of the expected report of the UN Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights on the human rights situation in the country, was moderated by Karapatan secretary-general Cristina Palabay.

Callamard noted that the response of law enforcement to those who violate lockdown rules, mostly due to necessity was “neither necessary nor proportionate.”

President Rodrigo Duterte has tapped the military and police to man strict checkpoints and to arrest those who allegedly violate community quarantine rules.