PNP holds Rights-based Policing Forum with Civil Society Organizations in Zamboanga City

By Jong Cadion

ZAMBOANGA CITY (May 1, 2017) - The PNP Human Rights Affairs Office (HRAO) under the helm of PCSUPT DENNIS A. SIERVO, Chief of Human Rights Affairs Office, conducted Rights-Based Policing Forum with the PRO9 Personnel and Civil Society Organizations held at Lantaka Hotel, Zamboanga City on April 26, 2017.

“Rights-based policing should be a way of life for our police officers,” said PCSUPT DENNIS A SIERVO, who heads the Philippine National Police Human Rights Affairs Office (HRAO) during the “Philippine National Police (PNP) – Civil Society Organizations (CSO) Rights-Based Policing Forum” for police and CSO groups based in the Zamboanga Peninsula.

PRO9 Information Officer PSUPT ROGELIO C ALABATA disclosed that the one-day forum was attended by combined participants from the PNP-HRAO personnel, Commission on Human Rights, Academe, local CSOs, Civic Groups, Other Law Enforcement Agencies, Representative from Local Government Unit, Religious Sectors and Private Sectors, PCSUPT JONATHAN V ABLANG, DRDA, PRO9, together with legal officer of PRO9 and other HRAO PNP officer, led the PNP contingent in the forum.

PSupt. Alabata said that the objectives are to provide opportunities to discuss problems concerning Human Rights on the issues of Children in conflict with the law, congested custodial facilities, arrest, use of and search and seizure, person under police custody and fatal shooting/torture/ill treatment; identify administrative remedies to address the problems; enhance understanding of Human Rights issues and gaps; and develop effective approaches in addressing human rights issues with the communities and Civil Society Organizations (CSO).

PSupt. Alabata further said that the event will give the PNP and CSO representatives the opportunity to network with each other and discuss common issues, and at the same time for the PNP to describe its police operational procedures which is to respect the basic rights of persons particularly in dealing with the suspects or those who were charge in the enforcement of the law. One way to increase police’s operational effectiveness is for them to network with civic groups, CSOs, the local government and the private sector for the former to draw additional resources and obtain information critical to deterring crime.

In this way, the police will better understand their working environment and be responsive to the needs of the community. Similarly, and in order to build trust and cooperation, CSOs and community leaders should be familiar with the legal basis and parameters which determine police response, he added.