Rights-Based Policing
PNP holds Training of Trainors for Police Human Rights Officers in the Visayas

HSF

Commissioner Gana was among the resource persons in a two-day Training of Trainors (ToT) on Rights-Based Policing for over 30 police region-, province-, and city-based human rights officers from the Visayas for them to enhance their knowledge on rights-based policing and incorporate these in mission planning, conduct of training and operational activities, and at all times being sensitive to the economic, socio-cultural and political issues in the local areas of responsibility.

The training is premised on the need to continuously provide training opportunities to help ensure individual growth, and on a collective note, the teams’ over-all or unit-level capability enhancement.

The training which was conducted by the Philippine National Police Human Rights Affairs Office (PNP-HRAO) with the support of the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) focused on incorporation of HRBP principles in local police operations as these relate to conduct of beat patrol, traffic management, and investigation of cases as the “first responder” to a crime scene. A community-based policing approach was also suggested to manage and curb local crimes.

HSF

Included in the training is a review of HRBP concepts and its practical applications, including civil disturbance management, and responding to the media; conduct of further training with emphasis on adherence to laws and police operational procedures; and use of verbal, non-verbal and e-based communication and networking skills. The training was designed to enhance the knowledge of police human rights officers and for them to have a deeper understanding on the practical, policing-specific applications of rights-based policing and incorporate these when they advise operational units in the planning and implementing of activities. Police Regional Director for Chief Superintendent Noli Taliño affirmed the value of having this mindset and told the participants to apply the principles of “rights-based policing” at all times.

After the two-day forum, a PNP-Civil Society Organizations’ forum was held to provide police officers and the citizens a common understanding of the police procedures, how these relate to the officers’ practicing rights-based policing, and how the PNP officers and CSOs can work together locally to promote the respect for human rights.  The forum gave local police and CSO representatives the opportunity to network with, and discuss common issues affecting local peace and order.

HSF

The PNP-HRAO arranged for an officer from the Police Regional Office to provide a general briefing on police operational procedures (POPs) with emphasis on those which, if not followed, result to the most number of complaints, such as patrol procedures, checkpoints, and serving warrants of arrest.

During the open forum, the topic which elicited the most interest relate to the PNP’s Anti-Drug Operations such as the mechanics of the PNP’s “Oplan Tok-Hang (Approach and Talk),” and the “reward system” established by the local government office for police officers with the most number of arrests. “We should temper the Oplans Tok-Hang and Double Barrel with rights-based policing”, said Human Rights Director for Central Visayas Attorney Arvin Odron. For his part, Police Chief Superintendent Sheldon Gonzales Lacaban stressed that the Philippine National Police does not condone vigilante killings. “We will always adhere to the rule of law,” he added.

HSF’s partnership with the PNP supports human rights-based policing training for PNP human rights officers and trainers, and the holding of fora for representatives of the PNP and CSOs to introduce the PNP's "Rights-Based Policing Program," which promotes the police officers' competence, professionalism and networking with the community. HSF has been working successfully with the PNP since 2008 for the implementation of the PNP human rights development program and provided technical and funding assistance in the conduct of human rights training, deepening seminars and the publication/production of training and information materials, among others.