The 220,000-strong police force is looking forward to an “active partnership” with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) during the term of PNP chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said yesterday.
Fajardo, in an interview, said there is a possibility the PNP and the CHR will enter into a memorandum of understanding “to strengthen coordination and cooperation” between the two agencies.
She also said Torre is set to visit today the CHR office in Quezon City “because there was a negative interpretation about his recent statement.”
Torre has clarified that police operations will be intensified in the campaign against illegal drugs and done within the ambit of the law.
“He is going to explain (his statement)… because we want to see an active partnership with the Commission on Human Rights … to have good relationship between the two agencies,” said told radio dzBB.
Following his assumption as PNP chief on Monday last week, Torre said the number of suspects in the continuing war against illegal drugs will be among the metrics in assessing the performance of policemen.
The CHR expressed concern over Torre’s pronouncement, saying such statement may “unintentionally pressure officers to prioritize quantity over quality.” The CHR also said that “historically, such frameworks have risked incentivizing shortcuts, abusive, or arbitrary practices, which undermine human rights and erode public trust in law enforcement.”
But Fajardo said, “This time around, there will be a good relationship with the CHR … They can observe how policemen effect arrest, how they conduct patrol in the streets and determine if there is anything that should be improved or corrected on the side of the PNP.”
Fajardo said CHR representatives are welcome to join operations to observe how policemen arrest suspects.
“There is a perception that the PNP and CHR are enemies or not in good terms because the Commission on Human Rights is really determined to perform its sworn duty of protecting human rights,” Fajardo told the radio dzBB.
