The Commission on Human Rights said Monday there was no basis to justify the arrest and detention of several journalists during the Nov. 29, 2007 standoff at The Peninsula Manila hotel in Makati City.
In a news briefing, CHR chair Leila de Lima said some violations were committed during the arrest and processing of media personalities in the aftermath of the six-hour standoff between government forces and the group of Army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and the Magdalo led by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.
In one of its resolutions, the CHR recommended that the case be “referred to the Department of the Interior and Local Government and to the Philippine National Police for internal inquiry and for filing of proper administrative disciplinary cases and measures applied to proper persons.”
The said resolution also urged the “Department of Justice to pursue further investigations and filing of proper cases as to violations of the Revised Penal Code and special laws on the rights of persons detained.”
The resolutions issued by the CHR could strengthen the case to be appealed by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP).
But the press watchdog says the resolution may not be enough.
“We laud the resolution issued by the CHR but the resolution is not enough. We urge the CHR to file a case before the prosecutor’s office so that it will not just be a toothless body,” said NUJP chair Jose Torres Jr. – Sophie Dedace, GMANews.TV
CHR resolution over Nov 29 incident not enough – NPC
by Johanna Camille Sisante
The National Press Club (NPC) on Monday described as “half-baked” the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) resolution saying police violated the human rights of journalists when they were arrested during last year’s standoff at The Peninsula Manila hotel in Makati City.
NPC president Benny Antiporda said that while they are grateful for the CHR resolution, the human rights body should have presented a more concrete recommendation as to what will be done to the government forces involved in the arrests.
“It’s not useless…pero ang problema natin is half-baked ang nangyari dito,” Antiporda said. “What we’re talking about is concrete recommendation. Ang dapat sana is recommend (the) filing of a case (before the) to Ombudsman.”
“Yung recommendation hindi ganon kalakas. Tumulong na rin sila, itodo na nila,” he added.
In its resolution released in a press conference Monday, the CHR said it found no basis in the arrest of journalists and their detention at Camp Bagong Diwa.
“The Commission has found that there was no basis to justify detaining, and the processing, of members of the media in Camp Bagong Diwa. In other words, there were violations of human rights to liberty, security, and freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention of media persons involved in the incident,” said CHR chairperson Leila de Lima.
The CHR recommended that the case be referred to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Philippine National Police (PNP) for possible administrative and disciplinary cases to personnel involved, as well as to the Justice department for further investigation.
“This is an international issue and not an internal issue of the PNP,” Antiporda said, adding there is already prima facie evidence proving that the police involved in the incident can be charged.
“Yung future suppression of press freedom, yun yung pinaglalaban natin ngayon,” he added.
Police arrested and subjected to processing media personalities in the aftermath of the six-hour standoff between government forces and the group of Army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and the Magdalo led by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV last November 29. – GMANews.TV
NUJP says CHR resolution on Manila Pen standoff wanting
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines welcomes the resolution issued by the Commission on Human Rights that found violations in the “arrest, detention and processing” of journalists who covered the Nov. 29, 2007, Makati standoff.
We, however, found the resolution wanting.
Instead of recommending the filing of charges against those who violated the journalists’ rights, the CHR merely “referred” the case to the departments – the DILG and the PNP – whose personnel were accused of the violations for “internal” inquiry.
The human rights body also urged the Justice department to look into the matter.
But how can we expect a fair investigation by the Justice department when no less than Justice Sec. Raul Gonzalez prejudged the case when he issued an advisory urging media practitioners to “obey” authorities when it comes to incidents like the Manila Pen standoff?
We appreciate the CHR’s effort in looking into the incident and for providing us a studied opinion that could help us in pursuing our case against individuals and agencies that violated the rights of media practitioners.
The NUJP understands that the human rights body has no prosecutory powers, but we also believe that it could have made a stronger recommendation for the prosecution of those who violated the rights of our colleagues.
Jose Torres Jr., Chairperson
Sonny Fernandez, Secretary General
“The basis of our government being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right; and were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.”(Thomas Jefferson, 1787)
CHR’s half-baked resolution/opinion. Should we really expect more from de Lima? Baka nga naman ma dela Paz siya.
chi, you’re right. Survival is supreme law. Ask Gloria.
Small Blessings!
I do not think you understand the workings of the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (CHRP). The CHRP is neither a judicial nor quasi-judicial body. It is
CHRP’s function, among others things, “to provides legal aid and counseling services; conducts monitoring of cases/complaints with concerned agencies; conducts rights based public inquiry on issues and concerns of marginalized and disadvantage sectors; and conducts studies to establish certain human rights conditions/situations affecting human development for the adoption of policies, programs and measures for the promotion of human rights. Also, it is CHRP’s function to provide appropriate human rights investigative interventions; medico-legal services; conducts alternative dispute resolution of cases thru mediation; quick reaction activities; fact finding missions; rights based situation tracking and rights based investigative monitoring”
Thus, the CHRP was absolutely correct in referring the matter to the DILG or PNP or the DOJ. The fact that RTC Judge Reynaldo Laigo of Makati dismissed the class suit on the ground that the arrest, handcuffing, and detention was justified put to rest the issue of arbitrary detention.
The Manila Peninsula Siege absolutely justifies the police to arrest, handcuff and detained any and all people who may have caused or incited the siege and that includes some liberal media people. The fact that “There is no proof that the media displayed violence nor that they tried to escape the police” was not relevant as long as the police had a probable cause that an unlawful activity was afoot.
The spring cannot rise more than its source and therefore, CHRP cannot override the ruling of RTC Judge Reynaldo Laigo. Can we just call this matter a sour . . . .