MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has made significant strides in the promotion and protection of human rights in the country during the first months of his administration.

Among the accomplishments of the Marcos administration was the speedy investigation of the case of slain journalist Percival Mabasa, more popularly known as Percy Lapid.

The chief executive has lauded the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for doing a good job in the Percy Lapid case, noting that it was practically solved in 17 days, with a high-government official being touted as the possible mastermind.

As part of the justice sector reforms, the government was able to release more than 700 persons deprived of liberty as part of the program aimed at decongesting detention facilities.

In addition, investigative and accountability processes for better case build-up were streamlined.

Proving that the rule of law applies to everyone under the Marcos administration, 25 police officers were indicted, resulting from the work of the Review Panel looking into incidents in the context of the anti-illegal drug campaign.

Following the internal investigation of the PNP on cases of abuse within its ranks, 27 police officers were dismissed from service, 18 were demoted, and 98 were suspended.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, in a statement, reported that he briefed the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) on the progress in the implementation of the national agenda on human rights since the 3rd cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in 2017 under the four pillars of justice and law enforcement reforms; investments in economic, social and cultural rights; constructive and open engagement with the international community; and protection of vulnerable groups.

The Department of Justice secretary attended the 4th cycle UPR of the Philippines by the HRC in Geneva, Switzerland.

The UPR involves a periodic review of the human rights records of all 193 UN Member States and provides an opportunity for all States to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their respective countries and to overcome challenges to the enjoyment of human rights.

According to Secretary Remulla, the Philippines accepted and implemented 103 out of the 257 recommendations from the 3rd cycle of the UPR.

There is a planned training program on the Minnesota Protocol on the Investigation of Potentially Unlawful Death for authorities, with the participation of the Commission on Human Rights and other stakeholders, Remulla said.

In the same statement, the Justice secretary stated that the government does not hesitate to take action when there is compelling evidence to do so, adding that this should dispel the mistaken notion of a culture of impunity in our country.

Remulla likewise pointed out that the government will not tolerate the denial of justice nor any violation of human rights and vowed to fix what needs fixing and improve what needs improving.

In a meeting with the UN Resident Coordinator to the Philippines Gustavo Gonzales in June, President Marcos pledged to uphold and protect human rights in the Philippines. (OPS)