from The Philippine Star
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=560699&publicationSubCategoryId=65
MANILA, Philippines - Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Manuel Villar Jr. yesterday called for the strict monitoring of the implementation of human rights policies adopted by the government and treaties ratified by the Philippines.
“If we are serious in dealing with extra-judicial killings in the country, we must raise the awareness that the Philippines absolutely adheres to the highest standards of protecting the people’s rights at all times,” Villar said.
To address the human rights problem, Villar said he would propose the creation of a network of government and independent groups that will monitor human rights compliance and abuses committed by law enforcers and members of the national security force.
Villar’s appeal was prompted by a 2009 report of Freedom House, a New York-based human rights group, classifying the Philippines as only a “partly free” nation in 2008 due to several controversies in the human rights field and unfavorable developments in the political arena.
In 2005, the group’s “Freedom in the World” annual report categorized the Philippines as “free.”
Villar maintained that the Philippine society is ruled by law and not by the barrel of the gun, but said this is hardly achieved. He said it would take a tested leader to ensure a peaceful environment through observance of human rights.
He also said discussions on the Human Security Act of 2007 should be held regularly in order to avoid misinterpretations of the law. The Human Security Act makes terrorism a crime and allows authorities to arrest terror suspects without warrants and temporarily detain them without charges. – Christina Mendez
MANILA, Philippines - Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Manuel Villar Jr. yesterday called for the strict monitoring of the implementation of human rights policies adopted by the government and treaties ratified by the Philippines.
“If we are serious in dealing with extra-judicial killings in the country, we must raise the awareness that the Philippines absolutely adheres to the highest standards of protecting the people’s rights at all times,” Villar said.
To address the human rights problem, Villar said he would propose the creation of a network of government and independent groups that will monitor human rights compliance and abuses committed by law enforcers and members of the national security force.
Villar’s appeal was prompted by a 2009 report of Freedom House, a New York-based human rights group, classifying the Philippines as only a “partly free” nation in 2008 due to several controversies in the human rights field and unfavorable developments in the political arena.
In 2005, the group’s “Freedom in the World” annual report categorized the Philippines as “free.”
Villar maintained that the Philippine society is ruled by law and not by the barrel of the gun, but said this is hardly achieved. He said it would take a tested leader to ensure a peaceful environment through observance of human rights.
He also said discussions on the Human Security Act of 2007 should be held regularly in order to avoid misinterpretations of the law. The Human Security Act makes terrorism a crime and allows authorities to arrest terror suspects without warrants and temporarily detain them without charges. – Christina Mendez
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