PNP to Give 80,000 Copies of Miranda Doctrine Handbooks to Cops Nationwide

The Philippine National Police (PNP) will soon distribute at least 80,000 copies of the Miranda Doctrine handbooks to police officers nationwide, which they would read to a person placed under arrest, an official said.

Chief Supt. Dennis Siervo of the PNP Human Rights Affairs Office (HRAO) in Camp Crame said the current administration saw the need for the handbook.

“It is to ensure the accused, if there will be an arrest made, that we’ll be able to read them their rights,” said Siervo.

Under the law, a police officer who is implementing an arrest should read the Miranda Doctrine to inform the person of his right to remain silent and that anything he says will be used against him in court.

An arrested person also has the right to have a legal counsel of his choice, and in the absence of one, a lawyer will be provided for him.

The handbook has been translated into 10 languages, including Cebuano, Ilocano, Waray, Chavacano and Hiligaynon.

“The important question here is, ‘Do you understand your rights?’” he said.

Siervo said the frequent arrests of Chinese nationals in Manila prompted them to include Chinese, English, Taiwanese, Japanese and Korean in the handbook.

A voice-over translation of the languages is also available in the website of the police’s human right office in http://hrao.pnp.gov.ph/.

The handbook also includes Republic Act 9745, or the Anti-Torture Act. (PNA) RMA/EB/EDS