Rep. Mujiv Hataman of AMIN Party List and Rep. Faysah RPM Dumarpa of Lanao del Sur had filed two different bills on anti-Discrimination. Their bills are now being consolidated into one.
This consolidated bill is now on the process of being formulated and framed. We would like to hear your views about this bill and help contirbute to its construction by making your comments on its draft posted here.
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One of the alleged masterminds in the Batasan Pambansa Complex bombing yesterday accused the Philippine National Police (PNP) of torturing its witness to force him to execute an affidavit that would link him and another political figure from Mindanao in the bomb blast.
Anak Mindanao party-list Rep. Mujiv Hataman, in a privilege speech, noted that former Tuburan Mayor Hajaron Jamiri had been severely tortured by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in order to implicate him and former House Deputy Speaker Gerry Salapuddin in the Nov. 13 blast that killed Basilan Rep. Wahab Akbar and four other legislative employees.
The party-list lawmaker’s brother Jim, who lost to Akbar in the May congressional elections, was also implicated.
“According to the relatives of Jamiri, he was beaten up, electrocuted and made to suffer different forms of torture just to pin down and implicate them,” Hataman said.
The lawmaker, armed with a picture of Jamiri, said it is clear that the markings of torture are all over the hands, nipple and various parts of the body of the police witness.
Hataman said as of press time Jamiri is being examined by a medico legal doctor to prove that he has been tortured.
He also appealed to the CIDG to stop the alleged practice of torturing witnesses even as he called on Jamiri to come out and expose the police.
Senior Assistant Minority Leader Rep. Roilo Golez also on Wednesday lashed at the manner police handled their investigation of the Batasan blast.
“There were some flaws in the procedures in the investigations conducted by the police in the Batasan blast,” Golez told reporters at the weekly Ayes and Nays Forum.
“First, when they said they seized a Corolla during the Payatas raid allegedly belonging to one of the suspects, I asked them whether they have confirmed if that particular car was seen entering the Batasan complex, they said they have not yet confirmed,” Golez noted.
“Second, when I asked them whether they have confirmed if the motorcycle they have also seized was seen entering the Batasan complex, they said that except for the closed-circuit TV (CCTV) footage, they also have not yet confirmed with the security log book.”
He also noted the operational control over the police personnel manning the security in Congress
“For the House Sergeant-At-Arms to exercise operational control over the police would be in violation of Republic Act 6975 which stipulates that only local executives and the PNP would have operational control over the police,” Golez stressed. “The PNP failing to investigate its men who were manning the House security at the time of the incident is also a lapse on their part,” he added.
PNP chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr., in a radio interview, admitted that the police are banking on the testimony of Jamiri as he expressed hope that the former mayor would not backtrack on his statement against Hataman and Salappudin.
He admitted the CIDG does not have physical evidence to support Jamiri’s testimony against the two.
“What we have against Hataman and Salapuddin are mostly based on testimonial evidence... We don’t have physical evidence against them; that’s why the cases will be dismissed if Jamiri will backtrack his testimony,” Razon said.
He also denied claims that the police tortured Jamiri, claiming they cannot coerce anyone into signing an affidavit as it will be useless and inadmissible in court.
“We won’t let that happen because any testimony that is taken (from a witness) who is under duress, under torture will be unacceptable in court. Our efforts will be wasted,” the PNP chief added.
Meanwhile Golez, in the same forum, said they are now exploring putting up an in-house security for Congress similar to that of the Capitol Police in the United States.
“Relying on the PNP and the military for security could also have its disadvantages,” he noted. “Let’s say there is a coup, to whom would be our security pledged loyalty if they are provided for by the PNP or the military?”
“So right now, we are contemplating on putting up an in-house security for Congress,” he added. “But of course we have to consider budgetary requirements, trainings and other provisions.”
The Parañaque lawmaker also assured that members of the minority bloc would extend their assistance to Hataman.
“Right now, Rep. Hataman is facing two perils: first is legal and the second is security,” Golez said.
“Since the Department of Justice is now conducting preliminary investigations on him, we would be extending him the legal assistance he needs,” he added.
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