PHILIPPINES: Rosa Cer Dela Cruz, a broadcasting student shares her views on policing in the Philippines
What do you think of the policing system of your country? Is it good? Or do you think it should be different? Kindly explain. You can take your time.
The policing system in the Philippines is harsh. The logic of having a police is supposedly to keep the internal peace and order in the society. But they (the police) clearly function as an instrument of the state, a repressive state apparatus, defining peace and order as the implementation of all the government’s order regardless of its effect or impact to the people. There concept of peace and order is based on the enforcement of the fascist scheme and not on serving the people.
What do you think of police use of torture? Good? Bad? Kindly explain.
Police use of torture is not good. The penalty of even the worst criminal should be based upon and depend on the procedure of the justice system. Even the humanitarian law enacted in the whole world is against torture. There are anti-torture acts that supposedly protect us from any kind of torture. And I think there is actually no relevant information being extracted in that method. As they say, when you undergo an extreme torture, you will admit everything, even killing Jose Rizal. They just want to afflict their captures.
What is your idea of good relationship between police and citizens?
The people must not be frightened of the police. Many drivers and civilians feel anxious because for them, the presence of a police implies extortion, or a harmful individual that might assault them. It should not be like that. I think the only way for the police to earn the people’s respect and recognition of their role as protectors of society is to really serve the people’s interest, and not to frighten or harass them.
If you have a problem, would you feel safe to go police and complain? Kindly explain.
It depends. I noticed that they treat different kinds of people in many different ways. If you look like a professional, they will treat you politely. For the Broadcasting students like us, since hanging around with the politicians is part of our academic requirements, we were treated by the police in a good way. But as an activist, I think it is NO because they are elements of the state and in the end, they will still serve for it.
Is there a domestic violence law in your country? , If yes, is it well implemented? If not what are the problems?
I know that there are those who push for a law against domestic violence but I am not sure if it was already passed. Or if it was passed, I think it is not enough. Many people consider domestic violence as a personal grievance, for example a dispute between husband and wife. They do not consider them as a crime. And many of those who experienced domestic violence do not want to expose their experience in public.
The views shared in this article do not necessarily reflect those of the AHRC, and the AHRC takes no responsibility for them.
About the Author:
Rosa Cer Dela Cruz is a broadcasting student in the University of the Philippines and a member of Anakbayan
