The National Police Commission (Napolcom) has approved the activation of human rights desks at all Philippine National Police (PNP) stations and offices nationwide.

Vice chairman and executive officer Eduardo Escueta said Napolcom 2009-072 aims to intensify awareness on human rights within the country’s premiere police organization.

Escueta said the human rights desks shall monitor and maintain files and records of PNP personnel involved in human rights violations for analysis and subsequent formulation and implementation of necessary interventions.

“The PNP must ensure that the designated human rights desk officers are properly educated and trained in the field of human rights,” Escueta said. “It is high time that the PNP activates the human rights desks in all its police offices to cope with the alleged growing number of human rights violations,” he said.

Escueta said the commission acted favorably on the submitted NHQ-PNP General Order number DPL 07-20 which provides for the activation of the human rights desks at the different levels of command in the PNP for approval of the Napolcom.