Press Release
March 7, 2009

On CHR being asked to stop QC 'shootout' probe

"The Public Attorney's Office (PAO) cannot ask the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to stop its investigation of the EDSA 'shootout' for allegedly showing bias against the police personnel who were videotaped apparently using excessive force against the already immobilized, some say already dead, suspects.

"PAO has a job to do, which is to provide legal representation to those unable to secure the services of private counsel. But so does the CHR, whose mandate is to protect and promote human rights, especially against the abusive use of state power. I'd rather have a CHR that is biased towards protecting human rights, in the same way that I am for a public attorney's office that is biased in favor of protecting the rights of the accused it represents.

"I see nothing wrong with the parallel investigations being conducted by the CHR and the National Police Commission (Napolcom) because they basically have the same objective, which is to determine the truth."

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