PNP assures protection of IP rights
ALL efforts are in place to ensure the protection of human rights of the country’s indigenous people (IP) and provide them the proper and adequate government service they need, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. said.
According to the top cop, the 226,000-strong police force also supports all collaborative efforts to prevent human rights violations among the IP community, mostly living in so-called “Geographically Isolated and Disadvantageous Areas” (GIDAS) where their poor living conditions are being taken advantage of rebel groups.
Azurin gave the assurance as the PNP recently marked Human Rights Consciousness Week and the 74th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The event coincided with the visit to the PNP national headquarters in Camp Crame of the chairperson of the National Commission on Indigenous People or NCIP, Secretary Allen A. Capuyan.
The PNP and NCIP leadership discussed opportunities for gaining support to forge active partnerships and collaboration for important policies in preventing human rights violations among our IPs.
“Kinikilala ng PNP ang mahalagang papel na ginagampanan ng mga katutubong Filipino sa paghubog ng ating pambansang kultura at pamana. Ang PNP ay buong-galang na nagpupugay at nagpapasalamat sa mga katutubong Filipino dahil sa kanilang mga naitulong sa atin sa pagpapalaganap ng kaayusan at kapayapaan sa mga komunidad,” Azurin said.
Capuyan was joined by other NCIP Executives and Directors from the Mindanao Indigenous People Council of Elders and Leaders, Mindanao Indigenous People Youth Organization, and Mindanao Indigenous People Conference for Peace and Development.
The three Mindanao IP organizations comprise the third party in the “whole-of-government/nation (WOG/WON) approach” to end local communist armed conflict in the country.
The “Healing and Reconciliation,” operationalization of 11 building blocks, workshops, and ancestral domain visitations were the recent programs of the groups in partnership with the NCIP, Capuyan said.
This aims to level off the understanding and significance of operationalizing the 11 “building blocks” on the recognition, protection and promotion of the rights of IPs to all stakeholders for a resilient, relevant and responsive indigenous cultural communities (ICCs )/indigenous peoples as partners for nation building, peace, security, and development, he added.
Azurin said the entire police force joins the nation and the NCIP in their “shared goal of a genuine and lasting transformation and development.”
“The PNP leadership assures everyone of a peaceful and orderly nation as we redefine our organization to better serve and protect the community and ensure public safety and security,” Azurin said.
