An interview conducted by the Asian Human Rights Commission. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the AHRC.
Philippines: “I never thought that I would be safe in their hands”
Ms. Dorris Cuario is the Secretary General of Karapatan-Southern Tagalog region, a local human rights organisation. Dorris has been involved in human rights work for many years. In 2008, policemen in Mindoro Island included her name as one of the accused in a fabricated charge of the murder of a police officer. The local court later dismissed the case.
Below is the translation of the interview with her about torture and policing in the Philippines.
1. What do you think of the policing system of your country? Is it good? Or do you think it should be different?
In the Philippines it is said that there is democracy in the policy, but for a long period of time the laws that envisage human rights cannot guarantee that one’s rights are protected. There are a lot of laws which fail to protect the people coming from different sectors of the poor or those coming from the lower classes in our country, particularly the minorities. While there are laws which can protect the rights of the people, they also have loopholes which make it meaningless for the people. For example, there is Article III of the Philippine Constitution (Bill of Rights) but in reality what happens is exactly the opposite. There is no democracy for the poor, but only for the rich, politicians, the armed forces and the police.
2. What do you think of the police use of torture? Good or bad?
Torture is widespread in the Philippines. The police and the soldiers of different regimes have been doing this for a long time, particularly against the people who fight for the rights of the farmers, workers and other sectors who want change in the society in which they live. Those in the government are using torture to suppress the increasing dissent of the people. We have long wanted to have a law on torture because it is against the eyes of men and of God. However, this was never considered a priority because most of those in the government are the ones violating this. They are doing it to prevent the people from rising up or fighting against the personal interest of the country’s political way of life.
3. What is your idea of the relationship between the police and citizens?
In the Philippines, for a long time and even at present, there is not a good relationship with the police and the soldiers because of their graft and corrupt practices and also their involvement in criminal activities such as illegal drugs, selling of illegal firearms and of being used as private armies of big political dynasties, like in the Ampatuan Case. (In which over 50 people were massacred on the island of Mindanao). They are also involved in the killing of known activists in the country. Most of those involved are being promoted instead of being charged and prosecuted; and they are also given awards by the president of the country, as in the case of General Jovito Palparan under the regime of President Gloria Arroyo.
4. If you have a problem would you feel safe to go to the police and complain?
It depends on the situation, if you are complaining against the influential persons in the country (businessmen, landlords, the President of the country and the administration) I do not have trust in them or even think that I would be safe in the hands of the police and soldiers because most of them are appointed by the winning President or politicians in the country. While this law remains, there can never be any guarantee of the security and safety of the Filipinos who are poor. Until the police and the soldiers serve the people in a real sense, they cannot obtain any high recognition from the people in their service.
5. Is there a domestic violence law in your country? If yes is it well implemented? If not what are the problems?
Yes, there is a law on children’s rights and the violence against women, but these laws are not widely implemented. Still there are many cases of child labour and abuse. That is how laws are implemented in our country, but if the law guarantees the interest of the society (not to the disadvantaged) like the imposition of the E-VAT (Expanded Value Added Tax) and other laws, they are swiftly implemented. But the laws that fulfil the wishes of the people or the millions of Filipinos who are experiencing hunger, poverty and abuse of their rights are not effectively implemented. The law and policies of the country should not be treated as an issue of class.
