Pimentel seeks probe on rising torture cases in Phl

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III yesterday called for an inquiry by the Senate justice and human rights committee into the reported increasing number of torture and ill-treatment cases in the Philippines.

Pimentel, who chairs the committee, said that while torture is now penalized as a crime under the Anti-Torture Act (ATA) of 2009, it is still common in many police stations in the country.

He cited the report of Amnesty International, where it was noted that detainees in police custody have been subjected to a variety of torture methods including electric shock, systematic beating, punching and kicking; striking with wooden batons or metal bars; burning with cigarettes; waterboarding; near asphyxiation with plastic bags; and stressful body positions, among others.

Five years since the enactment of the ATA, Pimentel noted that no one has been convicted of torture in the Philippines and perpetrators continue to act with impunity.

He added that the Philippines is a state party to various international agreements on the protection of a detainee’s rights, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the UN Convention against Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

“Sadly, we are faced with a situation wherein the present number of victims of torture and ill-treatment may still increase if victims were educated of their rights. The fear of reprisal and lack of confidence in our justice system may have likewise contributed to the underreporting of legitimate claims of torture and ill-treatment,” he said.

Pimentel said there is a need to review the overlapping functions of various agencies looking into torture activities in the country.