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A militant party-list group is opposing the reported bid of National
Capital Region Police Office Director Geary Barias to become the
next chief of the 120-strong Philippine National Police.
Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel of Akbayan
party-list expressed fear that if Barias is installed as PNP chief,
he might resort to “arrest and detain first policy” before
journalists are given due process.
The lady lawmaker said the UN report means that
despite the so-called Human Security Act, the police is unable to
provide a secure atmosphere for journalists to practice their
profession.
House Deputy Minority Leader Satur Ocampo of
Bayan Muna said the UN “shame list” reflects the failure of the
police and justice system in the country.
“That RP ranks 2nd in Iraq in the list should
spur GMA to do more than just ordering investigation, as it should
on the larger issue of extrajudicial killings and disappearances,” said
Ocampo.
Earlier, the anti-crime watchdog, Volunteers
Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), said that urban crime had
increased, disputing the claim of NCRPO that it had decreased.
Another human rights group, Karapatan, said that
many crime victims do not file their complaints with the police
because they don’t trust them. The PNP’s data are only for those
crimes that have been reported to the police.
Karapatan also rebuked Barias. “The NCRPO
chief should remember that he handcuffed journalists. That’s a
crime. Did he include that in his report? We’re just asking.”
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