We uphold human rights — Catapang

Members of the House Committee on Human Rights were given an assurance by Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. that the BuCor is pro-human rights and against the use of torture.

Catapang made the assurance on Wednesday as one of the resource persons during the hearing for House Resolutions No. 6305, "An act establishing a national preventive mechanism against torture in the Philippines"; House Resolution No. 8993 ", an act establishing a national preventive mechanism (NPM) in compliance with the optional protocol to the convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (OPCAT)  and for other purposes introduced by Rep. Rufus Rodriguez; and House Resolution No. 8780, an act establishing  NPM in compliance with the optional protocol to the convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading of treatment or punishment of OPCAT and other purposes introduced by Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr.

"The BuCor gives utmost importance to human rights as it is a fundamental principle that should be upheld by all individuals, communities, and nations; and respect for human rights should be upheld even to persons deprived of liberty," Catapang told the committee.

The committee was also told by Catapang that the Bucor is willing and open to giving them access or unrestricted access to all its operating prison and penal farms nationwide for transparency and for them to see the plight of PDLs.

"The more you know, the more you will be able to help us solve our problem at the Bucor," Catapang said, adding that "keeping you informed and aware that we have a problem, particularly in overcrowding of PDLs is good enough because we knew that you will be able to help us."

Rep. Abante who is the chairman of the committee commended Catapang for his continued effort of decongesting the national penitentiary and even chided that the government is guilty of torture due to overcrowding of detention facilities.

Last year, Catapang signed a memorandum of agreement with the Commission on Human Rights to align the bureau's programs, policies, and practices with the human rights standards.

Under the MOA, both parties agreed to designate at least one Human Rights Officer in every security compound of each BuCor prison facility; develop and implement a special training course for the HROs and other officers and personnel of BuCor to substantially orient/re-orient them of human rights norms, standards, and principles, as well as on the role of BuCor in the prevention of violations and protection of the rights of the PDL; and review BuCor's existing policies, programs, measures, and correctional practices to ensure that they are consistent with human rights norms, standards, and principles.