President Arroyo has signed the anti-torture bill into law as her government’s commitment to safeguard and promote human rights, Malacañang said Friday.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the Anti-Torture Act of 2009 or Republic Act 9745 was signed on Tuesday, November 10. The law criminalizes acts of torture and provides stiffer penalties, ranging from arresto mayor to life imprisonment depending on the gravity of the offense.

The law “also makes liable any person who participated or cooperated in the commission of torture or who induces the commission, including members of the military and their immediate commanding officer or any government official who issued the order to commit the act.”

“This is a concrete demonstration of this administration’s commitment to human rights,” Remonde said.

The signing of the law, which provides rehabilitation and compensation of not less than P10,000 to victims of torture and their families, is in compliance with the United Nations Convention Against Torture.

Under the law, beating, food deprivation, electric shock, burning, blindfolding, threatening a person or his family with wrongful acts, solitary confinement, prolonged interrogation and shame infliction are among the forms of torture.

Apart from the compensation fund, the victims of torture will be given institutional protection to have a prompt and impartial investigation and sufficient government protection and security against all forms of harassments.

Under its refouler provision, the law provides that “no person shall be expelled, returned or extradited to another state if there are substantial grounds to believe that such person shall be in danger of being subjected to torture.”