Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 15)— Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has challenged the U.S. Department of State to show proof and provide details of alleged abuses committed by Philippine security forces, as mentioned by the latter in its recent human rights report.
“We question the State Department’s report of abuses by security forces,” Lorenzana said in a statement on Friday.
“But since the state department seems so sure of its facts, we challenge it to provide us with details so our Commission on Human Rights, a constitutional and independent body, can verify them,” he added.
The U.S.’ 2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices released earlier this week said there were “credible reports” that members of the Philippines’ security forces had committed “numerous” abuses.
It cited instances of supposed extrajudicial killings, forced disappearance, torture, arbitrary detention, and harsh prison conditions, among others.
Lorenzana vowed to punish perpetrators if the claims would be proven true.
“Absent these data, the accusations are nothing but innuendos and witch hunt,” the defense chief noted.
Malacañang echoed the pronouncement, as it also urged the U.S. State Department to “validate” the reports that reach its office.
“[T]riangulate the same with all other open and institutional sources, and put to work its political officers in the U.S. embassy in the Philippines who can then properly verify the same with the Philippine government,” acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar said in a statement on Saturday.
The Philippine National Police, meanwhile, said it would be “unfair” to tag the police body as an organization tolerating impunity and abuses, stressing its vow to improve the system and enforce law “without fear and favor.”
