Makati solon files bill to protect women inmates

MANILA, Philippines - A lawmaker is seeking to require all Philippine National Police (PNP) units to put female suspects under the custody of lady officers in every station.

House Deputy Majority Leader and Makati City Rep. Mar-Len Abigail Binay is proposing for a new legislation that would make female detainees and suspects "untouchable" by male officers to prevent sexual harassment.

"We are pushing for a system wherein if you are a woman, and you get apprehended or you are brought to the police station for any reason, the arresting officers will be duty-bound, under pain of sanction, to turn you over to the (station's) women desk for safekeeping," Binay said.

The lawmaker is proposing to increase the number of female PNP officers from 14 percent to 25 percent. The women's desk would assume the responsibility of looking after female suspects, which would also promote gender sensitivity in the police force.

As of October, Camp Crame's Personnel Accounting Information System data states that the PNP has 21,024 female officers while there are 127,800 male officers.

"Right now, women's desks do not attend to female suspects. Their function is limited to handling women and children filing complaints of rape, sexual harassment, domestic abuse and the like," the lawmaker said.

Under Binay's proposal, no female suspect or detainee may be removed from the women's desk without prior consent from its superior or the officer-in-charge.

Interrogation of female suspects should be done by or in the presence of lady officers, unless the questioning is fully videotaped.

The Makati representative cited recent cases filed in the National Bureau of Investigation against a junior police officer accused of raping a 29-year-old night club employee at the Eastern Police District headquarters in Taguig City and a 25-year-old detainee at Sta. Teresita police station in Batangas accusing an officer of rape.

For more proposed measures in the House of Representatives, visit our Bill Tracker.