PNP News Releases 2008

National Capital Region Police Office (PNP-NCRPO) chief, Police Director Geary L Barias has assured the public that the Civil Disturbance Management (CDM) units that will be set out to secure the State of the Nation Address of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Monday, July 28, 2008 will never engage in any act that will violate human rights and civil liberties.

Barias expressed his confidence on the competence of his CDM units to protect and uphold the fundamental and inherent human rights of the public in the wake of the upcoming protests and rallies to be staged by the militant groups in connection with the SONA.

Barias said that in order to ensure that the PNP CDM will be fully aware of their role in the promotion of human rights during protest rallies, a seminar on human rights for CDM personnel will be conducted on Wednesday, July 23, 2007, at the Quezon City Police District Parade Ground, inside Camp Karingal.

Barias added that the seminar will be graced by Atty. Lilia de Lima, chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and PNP chief, Director General Avelino I Razon Jr.

“In preparation for the deployment of our CDM units for the SONA, we will be doing this seminar to refresh our CDM personnel on the role of the PNP in the protection of human rights as well as to provide knowledge on the rules and regulations during deployment,” Barias said.

NCRPO spokesperson, PSUPT Rhodel O Sermonia said with the CDM units “fully armed” with the knowledge on civil liberties and human rights, it is expected that the conduct of the rallies—just like the previous rallies—will be peaceful and orderly.

Sermonia said that under the leadership of General Barias, Metro Manila rallies and protests have become exceptionally peaceful and orderly, and that is due to the preparations and dialogues Barias had organized to reach out with various militant groups and rally organizers.