Torture monitoring, CHR-7 starts checking detention cells in CV

CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Human Rights (CHR)-7 is now conducting a torture monitoring in different detention cells in the entire Central Visayas to ensure that rights of prisoners are being implemented while in jail.

A five-person team is now doing the inspection which started two weeks ago in Cebu province including the towns of Compostela, Carmen, Sogod, and Catmon.

Among the matters being observed are the conditions of jails, sanitation, and if detainees’ basic needs inside the facility are addressed properly like sufficient water supply, and meals. Some are also interviewed on the nature of their offense and how they are arrested.

The CHR has been conducting regular visitation of detention facilities yearly.

Atty. Alejandro Alonso Jr., CHR-7 director, said the monitoring is to check if there are prisoners deprived of their rights while in jail.

“Torture is committed in places where persons are deprived of their rights which are prohibited in the Anti-Torture Act of 2009,” Alonso told The FREEMAN.

The Anti-Torture Act of 2009 RA 9745 states that all persons, including suspects, detainees and prisoners are respected at all times, and that no person placed under investigation or held in custody of any person in authority or, agent of a person authority shall be subjected to physical, psychological or mental harm, force, violence, threat or intimidation or any act that impairs his or her free will or in any manner demeans or degrades human dignity.

Alonso said the conduct of the inspection is funded by a foreign entity in which the budget was given by their central office.

“Mag-depende man mi sa budget kay kung wala na pud mahunong among monitoring unya region wide man na, (This depends on the budget because if we don’t have funds, our region-wide monitoring will also be affected.)” Alonso said in a phone interview.

He explained that investigators are expected to come up with a report for evaluation and that so far, no negative comments were raised. — (FREEMAN)