Extra income from high crimes

Published reports about the failure of the administration of President Aquino to curb the rampant violations of human rights in the Philippines (Inquirer, 1/20/12) are absolutely correct, and must be taken objectively as a challenge to government agencies tasked to administer disciplinary sanctions against the violators and to the security forces, particularly the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police.

The news item cited World Report 2012 of the New York-based Human Rights Watch that characterized human rights institutions in the Philippines as “weak,” as the military and the police continue to violate human rights with impunity. This is simply alarming.

Today, the military and the police and other law enforcement agencies are involved in fabricating charges of high crimes not only to stifle dissent but also to earn extra income. They themselves serve as enforcers of protection syndicates and as guns-for-hire, or engage in arrest-for-ransom and other similar activities. And when they are subjected to a complaint, they are either promoted for having accomplished their mission or punished lightly to provide the complainants with some “consuelo de bobo.”

Human rights abuses are still rampant everywhere. The President has warned of drastic disciplinary action against the abusers, but unit commanders simply ignore him.

The World Report 2012 is absolutely true and evidence of such violations all over the Philippines can be gathered and documented.

—LIGORIO G.M. NAVAL,

114-B Alima, Bacoor, Cavite