Accountability part of PNP reform agenda – Eleazar
PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar on Saturday assured the citizenry that all police personnel are trained and oriented into a human rights-based approach to law enforcement to prevent them from committing abuses in the performance of their duties.
The top cop also emphasized that transparency and accountability are high on the police organization’s primary considerations in crafting its programs and policies.
Eleazar gave the assurance following a call by human rights advocacy group Center for International Law for law enforcers to respect, protect and fulfill human rights even when no one is watching.
CenterLaw said while it welcomes the use of body-worn cameras in police operations, it still did not guarantee human rights won’t be abused by policemen.
“Bago pa man ang panawagan na ito ay kasama na sa training program ng mga pulis ang pagrespeto sa karapatang pantao at patuloy naming ipinatutupad ang mga alituntunin upang hindi ito malalabag at maparusahan naman ang mga pulis na lalabag dito,” the PNP chief said.
“Marami na ang naparusahan sa aming hanay,” he added.
Eleazar also pointed out that a PNP Technical Working Group is currently working to help incorporate the Supreme Court rules on the use of body-worn cameras by the police on their Police Operational Procedures.
“Lilinawin ko lamang na ang inilabas na alituntunin sa paggamit ng body-worn cameras ay produkto ng pagtutulungan ng PNP pati na din ng Korte Suprema kaya ito ay nagpapatunay na kaisa ninyo kami sa pagsulong hindi lamang ng human rights-based approach in law enforcement kungdi na din ng transparency at accountability sa aming mga operasyon,” he said.
The PNP is consulting closely with the Supreme Court on this process, he added.
