2 Human Rights Situation in Police Lock-up Cells With the enactment of Republic Act No. 9745 4 and Republic Act No. 10353, 5 all institutions in the country maintaining jails and detention facilities are mandated to submit an inventory on places of detention to the CHR. Most of these institutions comply, but no assessment has yet been done to determine the level of compliance with international human rights standards. This is also true with the PNP, except for Regions VIII and Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) which have no inventory report on lock-up cells for the period December 2014 and January 2015. PNP-Region V submitted its report to PNP-Human Rights Affairs Office (PNP-HRAO), Camp Crame, for the period December 2014 and January 2015 only in February 2015. PNP Regions IV-A, VII, VIII and ARMM have no report for February 2015. 6 For its part, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) submitted an updated inventory which served as the basis for data-gathering in this study. The Philippine National Police The Constitution provides that the State shall establish and maintain one police force, which shall be national in scope and civilian in character, to be administered and controlled by a national police commission. 7 Republic Act No. 6975 8 paved the establishment of the Philippine National Police under a reorganized Department of the Interior and Local Government. Republic Act No. 8551, 9 which was enacted in 1998, provides that: “it is the policy of the State to establish a highly efficient and competent police force xxx; the PNP shall be a community and service oriented agency responsible for the maintenance of peace and order and public safety; and shall be organized to ensure accountability and uprightness in police exercise of discretion as well as to achieve efficiency and effectiveness of its members and units in the performance of their functions. Thereafter, RA No. 9708 10 extended for five (5) years the reglementary period for complying with the minimum educational qualification for appointment to the PNP and adjusting the promotion system xxx. The PNP has the authority to enforce laws, maintain peace and order, prevent and investigate crimes, arrest and detain offenders and bring them to justice in accordance with due 4 Anti-Torture Act of 2009. Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act of 2012. 6 Source: PNP-HRAO (SPO3 Magno and PO3 Arcella). 7 1987 Constitution of the Philippines, Article XVI, Section 6. 8 The Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990. 9 The Philippine National Police Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998. 10 An Act Extending for Five (5) Years the Reglementary Period for Complying with the Minimum Educational Qualification for Appointment to the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Adjusting the Promotion System Thereof, Amending for the Purpose Pertinent Provisions of Republic Act No. 6975 and Republic Act No. 8551 and for Other Purposes. 5