Karapatan concurred with the report of the United Nations Sub Committee on the Prevention of Torture (UN SPT) on the “chronic problem of overcrowding in places of detention” in the Philippines. The UN SPT came out with the statement after its visit in Philippines on May 25 to June 3, 2015. Karapatan cited the “grossly unjust system that puts many innocent people in jail” as the reason why such problem exists.
Karapatan concurred with the report of the United Nations Sub Committee on the Prevention of Torture (UN SPT) on the “chronic problem of overcrowding in places of detention” in the Philippines. The UN SPT came out with the statement after its visit in Philippines on May 25 to June 3, 2015. Karapatan cited the “grossly unjust system that puts many innocent people in jail” as the reason why such problem exists.
Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay said the cases of the 527 political prisoners in the Philippines are clear examples of unjust government policies and practices that exacerbate the conditions in detention centers. “All of the political prisoners were illegally arrested, charged with fabricated criminal cases, and are detained for long periods in jail because the Philippine government persecutes them for their political beliefs. Some of the political prisoners have been in jail for more than 10 years now,” she said.
Palabay added the political prisoners endure the harsh and inhuman conditions in jail facilities, denied of their right to speedy and fair trial, and go through tortuous court proceedings and various State machinations in an attempt to silence them.
Karapatan cited the arrest of women activists Andrea Rosal and Miradel Torres, who were both pregnant when they were arrested. “Andrea and Miradel were denied proper and timely medical services, suffered in cramped cells. They are denied of due process as they have been in detention for more than a year now even as they are innocent of the charges against them,” Palabay said.
Karapatan said there may be laws criminalizing torture and violations on the rights of detained persons but still, State forces blatantly commit torture and other rights violations against prisoners and persons denied of their liberty. “Without a clear framework and practice of accountability and by implementing state policies that deprives people of access to justice, such violations are expected to continue with impunity,” Palabay said.
The rights group urged the UN SPT to make their report public “for the interest of transparency and accountability.”
“The Filipino people, who worked tirelessly to uphold and advance human rights, deserve to know. We cannot expect such from the BS Aquino government who will do everything to prettify its image before the international community as its human rights record stinks,” Palabay ended. ###