Philippines leader signs act outlawing torture

MANILA (AFP) – Philippines President Gloria Arroyo signed a law on Friday that made torture a criminal offence punishable by up to 30 years in prison, a presidential palace statement said.

It penalises physical acts by persons in authority or their agents that cause "severe pain, exhaustion, disability or dysfunction" on detainees as well as mental or psychological acts "calculated to affect or confuse the mind or undermine a person's dignity and morale."

The law provides for jail terms of up to 30 years "depending on the gravity of the offence," outlaws secret detention places and solitary confinement, and provides for rehabilitation of victims and compensation.

Arroyo spokesman Cerge Remonde told reporters: "This is a concrete demonstration of this administration's commitment to human rights."

Arroyo signed the statute hours after US Secretary Hillary Clinton wound up an overnight visit to the Philippines, which is a party to the UN convention against torture.

In its latest human rights report on the Philippines in February, the US State Department was critical of some of the methods employed by individual members or units of the security forces in their long-running battle against Maoist and Muslim separatist insurgencies.

"Members of the security services committed acts of physical and psychological abuse on suspects and detainees, and there were instances of torture.

"Prisoners awaiting trial and those already convicted were often held under primitive conditions. Disappearances occurred, and arbitrary or warrantless arrests and detentions were common. Trials were delayed, and procedures were prolonged," it added.

The report also said "arbitrary, unlawful, and extrajudicial killings by elements of the security services and political killings, including killings of journalists, by a variety of actors continued to be major problems."