HRW hits Cebu mayor over human rights statement

“HUMAN RIGHTS applies to everybody,” international advocacy group Human Rights Watch (HRW) reminded Cebu City Mayor Tomas R. Osmeña after his tirade following the recent spate of killings in the city. “Only criminals have human rights,” Mr. Osmeña was quoted as saying in a local newspaper. “Mayor Osmeña is barking up the wrong tree. Instead of trying to discredit human rights, he should order his police officers to uphold it by strictly following lawful police procedures,” HRW said in a statement issued on Monday. “And more important, investigate and prosecute law enforcers implicated in abuses during anti-drug and anti-crime operations,” the HRW added. — Charmaine A. Tadalan