Daily Tribune‘I think human rights is something very precious to all of us here. We are all witness to this. And I think, of all the things that we really cherish, these are our personal human rights. Even if we are a poor country, we have the right to be speak, to defend ourselves.’
Bureau of Corrections officer-in-charge Gregorio Pio Catapang cited the importance of respecting the rights of persons deprived of liberty which the bureau, he said, has failed to observe.
The PDL, according to him, have been forgotten for so long and have not been treated like they should to a point that the mission of Bucor to reform them has failed.
Catapang is subtly referring to the killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid wherein a middleman happened to be an inmate of the New Bilibid Prison who in the end was also killed by fellow inmates to clear the tracks of those responsible for the contract to kill Lapid.
However, the quick action of investigators both from the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation uncovered those responsible after forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun said Cristito Villamor, the alleged middleman was killed using a plastic bag over his head.
In the end, the responsible inmates was one by one identified along with the alleged participation of suspended BuCor chief Gerald Bantag and his right hand man.
Double murder charges are now being investigated by the Department of Justice panel of prosecutors against Bantag, BuCor Deputy Security Officer Ricardo Zulueta and their alleged conspirators.
Judiciary's commitment
In a related development, Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo reiterated the judiciary's commitment to uphold and protect human rights.
The chief justice said they declare that in the Supreme Court and in the entire Judiciary, there will be no intolerance, bigotry, and prejudice; but only respect, acceptance and equality.
Yesterday, the world commemorated the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
UDHR proclaimed "the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being — regardless of race, color, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status."
The five most important right's of the 30 human rights under UDHR, are "the right to life, the right to a fair trial, freedom from torture and other cruel and inhuman treatment, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the rights to health, education and an adequate standard of living."
The Philippine judiciary started its commemoration of Human Rights Day last 6 December with the unveiling of a marker at the SC's lobby to memorialize the adoption of UDHR 74 years ago.
Meanwhile, PDLs will be reeducated about their rights as individuals, including their constitutional protection against torture, according to the Commission on Human Rights.
CHR Chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc underlined this as one of the commission's plans to protect PDLs during the signing of a memorandum of agreement between the Bureau of Corrections and the CHR.
Catapang said the signing of MoA with CHR, is part of his move to rebuild the BuCor and give value to inmates' basic rights.
"I think human rights is something very precious to all of us here. We are all witness to this. And I think, of all the things that we really cherish, these are our personal human rights. Even if we are a poor country, we have the right to be speak, to defend ourselves," Catapang said.
In the MoA, the BuCor's designated human rights officer in each security compound in every prison will also undergo human rights training from the CHR.
