MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
[ Memorandum Order No. 20, July 4, 1986 ]
EDUCATION OF ARRESTING AND INVESTIGATING PERSONNEL ON HUMAN RIGHTS
WHEREAS, the past regime was characterized by numerous violations of human rights committed by arresting and investigating personnel and those in charge of detention and convicted prisoners;
WHEREAS, to gain greater respect for human rights and deter violations thereof, there is an urgent need to impress upon the said public officers what these human rights are and the serious consequences of the violations thereof;
WHEREAS, the Presidential Committee on Human Rights, primarily tasked to assist the President in the discharge of her duty to respect and foster human rights, recommended that arresting and investigating personnel and those in charge of detention and convicted prisoners be educated about these rights;
IN VIEW THEREOF, the following instructions are hereby issued:
1. The Ministry of National Defense, the New Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Constabulary and the Integrated National Police are hereby directed to include as an integral and indispensable part of the education and training of all police, military and other arresting and investigating personnel, especially those in charge of detention and convicted prisoners, the study of human rights.
2. The ministry and agencies concerned, with the assistance of the Presidential Committee on Human Rights, shall forthwith institute a continuing education and training program on human rights for existing military, police and other arresting and investigating personnel, especially those in charge of detention and convicted prisoners, who have not received the education and training referred to herein. The continuance in office of the said personnel shall depend on their successfully completing the courses offered under said program.
3. In the formulation and setting up of educational or training programs to implement and carry out the directives herein, the ministry and agencies concerned shall consult and coordinate with the Presidential Committee on Human Rights and shall include in said program the study of the following:
a) The Bill of Rights of the Provisional Constitution adopted by Proclamation No. 3 dated March 25, 1986, or of the New Constitution when ratified;
b) Articles 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 235, 245, 267, 268 and 269 of the Revised Penal Code;
c) Republic Act No. 857;
d) Sections 1705 to 1751 of the Revised Administrative Code of 1917;
e) The Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners adopted by the Department of Justice on January 7, 1959; the Ministry of Justice Manual on the general rules, policies and operating principles adhered to in the prison service.
4. In the setting up of the said educational or training programs, the ministry and agencies concerned, with due regard to the demands and constraints of the work of the personnel involved, shall as far as practicable include therein the study of international conventions, agreements, covenants, and declarations on human rights, which were ratified by the Philippines or to which it is a signatory.
5. The National Police Commission shall include in the qualifying examinations for police work basic knowledge on human rights.1aшphi1
6. The ministry and agencies concerned, with the assistance of the Presidential Committee on Human Rights, shall establish a system of effectively testing the knowledge on human rights of those assigned to work as investigators or placed in charge of detention and convicted prisoners. Only those who passed the qualifying examination given pursuant hereto shall be so assigned to said work; Provided that, police personnel who passed the qualifying examination given under Number 5 hereof shall already qualify.
7. This Memorandum Order shall take effect immediately.
Done in the City of Manila, this 4th day of July, 1986.
By authority of the President:
(Sgd.) JOKER P. ARROYO
Executive Secretary
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