The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Thursday said National Capital Region Police Office chief Guillermo Eleazar could have violated the human rights of an erring cop.

An irate Eleazar berated and collared Police Corporal Marlo Quibete, a member of the Eastern Police District’s Drug Enforcement Unit, when the latter was arrested for allegedly extorting P200,000 from a drug suspect.

“Maaaring may na-violate siya doon sa right to dignity, right to presumption of innocence, right to humane treatment and all that.
Iyan ’yung mga posibleng karapatang pantao na nalabag,” CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said in an interview on DZMM.

This statement did not please the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), deeming that the CHR was defending a rogue cop, while disregarding the rights of his victim.

Quibete was accused of extorting money from a woman in exchange for the dropping of drug charges against her live-in partner.

“CHR has no human side. The General is just passionate in cleansing their ranks of scalawags as the public is crying for total cleansing,” VACC spokesperson Boy Evangelista said in a text message.

“Nasaan ’yung human rights ng mga biktima? Some are already 6 feet below the ground,” he added.

Quibete is facing criminal charges for robbery and extortion and is detained in Camp Bagong Diwa after his arrest Tuesday. He is also facing administrative cases for grave misconduct.

Eleazar, meanwhile, got the backing of President Rodrigo Duterte, as well as Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año and Philippine National Police chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde.