CSOs and Gov't Run Against Torture

Despite a stormy weather, close to a thousand people from public and private institutions went in front of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) office along EDSA to join and express their solidarity to the Basta Run Against Torture V (BRAT V). Participants to the BRAT jogged for almost seven kilometers to until they reached the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) office along Commonwealth Avenue where a short program was held. While jogging, participants flashed their shirts and raised their banners to publicly express the call of the activity: "FREE FROM TORTURE, NOT FREE TO TORTURE". During the brief program held at the CHR grounds, leaders of civil society organizations, government agencies, military and the police expressed their solidarity to the advocacy of promoting the right of every individual to be free from torture.

BRAT, a street movement and is now on its fifth year, is the flagship activity of the United Against Torture Coalition (UATC) where member organizations together with government institutions (i.e. Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police) run to call for the effective promotion, protection and fulfillment of every individual's right to be free from torture.

FREE FROM TORTURE, NOT FREE TO TORTURE

In a public statement, the UATC asserted that "Torture continues to be routinely practiced in the Philippines..." It is a pervasive practice that permeates at the core of disciplining, punishment, crime prevention, mechanisms to ensure national security and suppressing dissident groups. It is in this light that this year's BRAT calls the government, the primary stakeholder, to ensure that citizens, especially the poor and marginalized, to be FREE FROM TORTURE and NOT for the state's coercive apparatuses to be FREE TO TORTURE. There are also three core messages (see below), complementing the main message of the activity, that highlights the gap between legislation and implementation; and the systemic ills within state the state's coercive apparatuses which perpetuates the continued practice of torture.

BRAT Core Messages

1. Torture continues to be routinely practiced in the Philippines in spite of the enactment of the Anti-Torture Act of 2009 and the serious claims of the policing sector and state security establishments to be officially against its use.

2. There is a disjoint between policy and practice in the policing and state security sectors.

3. The flawed Philippine criminal justice system continues to buttress a culture of impunity by shielding perpetrators from accountability and to frustrate victims and their families from accessing justice and restitution.

Against All Odds

With tropical storm Falcon dropping 150 millimeters of continuous rainfall the day before and during the activity, organizers decided to push on with the BRAT, rain or shine. BRAT's principal organizer Ellecer Carlos strongly said, "We will be pushing on with the activity, rain or shine! Our perseverance of pushing on with the activity, despite the presence of [tropical storm] Falcon, will only demonstrate our seriousness in promoting our advocacy on the right to be free from torture".

True to weather forecasts, the morning of the 24th of June did have heavy but sporadic rainfall. However, the 1,000 strong runners, led by Fr. Robert Reyes and leaders of civil society organizations, government institutions, military and the police, did not waver. And, in a solid stream of individuals, ran through East Avenue, passing through the QC Circle and then entering Commonwealth Avenue until they reached the CHR Office.

Overwhelming Show of Support

BRAT was not only a public demonstration; it was also a presentation of support from various sectors of society for the advocacy for the right to be free from torture. The activity was attended by more or less than a thousand individuals. The activity was spearheaded by the UATC secretariat-organization, Balay Rehabilitation Center and was supported by UATC members such as Amnesty International Philippines (AIPh), Medical Action Group (MAG), Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) and Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP). As for government agencies, staffs from the CHR also ran the course and the DILG was the host for the starting point of BRAT. A large contingent of the mass movement belongs to the AFP and the Police. At least 500 individuals were from the military and the police. Divisions from the Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force and the Philippine National Police went and join the run. Individuals from the community and local government also participated in the activity. Office of the Barangay Council, Office of the Barangay Secretary, Lupon ng Barangay, The Barangay Council for the Protection of Children and the Barangay Women and Children's Desk of Barangay Bagong Silang participated in the BRAT. Representing the City of Caloocan was the Caloocan City Social Welfare and Development Office Unit IV. Youths and the Bagong Silang Theater Group (composed of young people) also ran and presented a short play during the short program held in the CHR grounds.

Successful Public Activity

After the activity, principal organizer Ellecer Carlos commented that BRAT was a successful public event. Carlos said, "I think we were successful in effectively conveying our message [the right of every individual to be free from torture] not only to state security forces but also to lay people who were able to witness our demonstration." Other Balay staffs also felt the same way. As one Balay staff put it, "There are a thousand of us running along main roads wearing shirts and carrying large banners and streamers, it won't be so difficult to see us and our message."

More than a Public Activity

In a post-activity meeting, Balay Executive Director, Ernesto Anasarias agreed to the idea that BRAT was a successful public demonstration. However, he had an alternative view about BRAT's success this year. Anasarias said, "BRAT's success this year goes beyond it having fulfilled its intended objectives [of promoting our advocacy to a large number of individuals and to the participants of the activity like the police and the military]." According to Anasarias, by expressing their various commitments in promoting the right to be free from torture, government agencies, including the military and the police, have effectively "laid down their cards" in front of civil society. As such, BRAT was more than a public activity in the sense that it was also a venue for commitment setting. Commitments expressed by participating government agencies may be used as basis for lobbying efforts.

 

*The UATC- the United Against Torture Coalition-Philippines is a coalition composed of several human rights institutions and non-government organizations working together in defending human rights and in the fight to eliminate the use of torture in the country. Balay Rehabilitation Center, Inc. is the current secretariat-organization for the UATC and is the primary organization, along with Amnesty International Philippines (AIPH), who spearheaded the implementation of the BRAT.