By Katrina Gracia Consebido
The administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. continues to promote and protect human rights in the Philippines with several accomplishments made during the first months of his administration.
Among his administration’s accomplishments was the swift investigation on the slay case of veteran broadcaster Percy Lapid. The President hailed the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for their prompt action on the case.
The government was also able to release more than 700 persons deprived of liberty as part of the justice department’s program detention facilities decongestion. There was also a streamlining of processes for a better case build-up.
Also indicted were 25 police officers as a result of the work of the Review Panel on the anti-illegal drugs campaign. A total of 27 police officers were dismissed, 18 were demoted, and 98 were suspended as a result of PNP’s internal investigation on abuse cases within its ranks.
Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said he already briefed the United Nations Human rights Council (UNHRC) on the development of the implementation of the national agenda on human rights.
Remulla stressed that the government will not tolerate the denial of justice or any violation of human rights and pledged to fix and improve their department. He recently attended the 4th cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the Philippines by the HRC in Geneva, Switzerland.
He said the Philippines accepted and implemented 103 out of the 257 recommendations from the 3rd cycle of the UPR.
President Marcos earlier vowed that he will uphold and protect human rights in the country during the meeting with the UN Resident Coordinator to the Philippines Gustavo Gonzales in June. -ag
