AN OFFICIAL of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said the Misamis Oriental Provincial Police Office (Moppo) has barred them and any human rights organizations from getting a copy of documents necessary for case build-up, such as police blotter and police reports.
Lawyer Pilipinas Palma of the CHR in Northern Mindanao said families of victims killed in questionable illegal drug operations are now starting to come forward and seeking their assistance, but they have a hard time obtaining police documents that are necessary for the case.
Palma said this is due to a memorandum order issued by the Moppo to stop giving documents to rights organizations.
"So what we do is we partner with existing government organizations to ask for the document," she added.
Palma said this order is only implemented in Misamis Oriental police offices.
"We only experience it to the Misamis Oriental provincial police office, so far in other areas, like Cagayan de Oro City Police Office, we are given documents," she added.
Police Superintendent Surki Serenas meanwhile, the spokesperson of Police Regional Office (PRO)-Northern Mindanao denied these allegations, pointing out that police blotters and reports are public documents available for access to anybody.
"I vehemently deny such allegations, it is a public document, what is normally accessible to an ordinary Juan, will be accessible to everybody, pwede sa media, pwede sa tanan," Serenas said.
He, however, added that some reports on cases of Children in Conflict with Law and rape cases are not available for release to anyone.
"Naa may mga records such as sa child in conflict in law, rape cases, these are not accessible unless lawyer ug doctors order to release it, but records that are ordinarily accessible to public, is accessible always," he added.
Meanwhile, Palma said despite the challenges, the CHR continue to carry out its mandate which is to ensure that there will be no abuse or negligence on the part of the government in protecting and upholding the rights of the people, especially those in the margins.