Policemen undergo on human rights training

CEBU, Philippines – Police officials of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 had a forum yesterday on the promotion of human rights.

Chief Supt. Franklyn Jesus Bacayu, national chief of the Human Rights Affairs Office, said such forum is being given to all police regional offices to improve their human rights programs.

He stressed, though, that the PRO 7 has not been involved in major cases related to human rights violations.

"They have been complying with human rights principles. The regional director has planned for this so the senior officers can bring these to the municipal level," he said.

Bacayu emphasized three things included in promoting human rights.

These are the mainstreaming of human rights within the police organization, the upgrading of the human rights desk and focusing in the improvement of their compliance to human rights principle.

Human rights desk officers from all over Visayas (Regions 6, 7 and 8) attended the forum at Hotel Asia.

"Malaki kasi ito sa aming paniniwala sa PNP, malaking bagay 'yung kaalaman kung ano ang human rights," he added.

They are strengthening their advocacy for what they call "rights-based policing," which means applying international human rights standards in police doctrines, policies, plans, operations, methods and tactics.

Under this, they stress that policemen have obligation to respect, protect and fulfill the rights of the people, with emphasis on professionalism, competency and prompt and courteous service to citizens. (FREEMAN)