E/CN.4/1991/17 page 82 about his alleged torture. He was arrested on 25 March 1990 by CAPCOM personnel and accused of being an NPA "sparrow member". He was later charged with murder, theft and violation of PD 1866 (illegal possession of weapons in furtherance of rebellion). His torture, by CAPCOM personnel, allegedly started immediately following his arrest and consisted of mauling, pouring of spiced vinegar into his nose and mouth, electric shocks applied to various parts of his body, including his genitals, and being subjected to "Russian roulette", with a gun pointed at his head. He was allegedly again subjected to similar torture on 11 April 1990, and was later placed in a small cell full of ants. The next day he was allegedly again tortured by electric shocks. Afterwards he was returned to the Pasay City gaol and a doctor examined him, but the examination was limited to his wrist, which was bruised from the handcuffs. The rest of the body was not examined. The case of Isidro de Lima was reportedly at present being considered by the Philippine Commission on Human Rights (PCHR). 261. In this context it may be noted that on 24 October 1990 the Philippine Mission to the United Nations Office at Geneva addressed a letter to the Special Rapporteur, in reply to his letter dated 6 June 1990, informing him that the PCHR was investigating the cases transmitted by that letter. The PCHR further suggested that the investigation of future cases would be expedited if non-governmental organizations could be encouraged to bring alleged violations of human rights to its attention at the same time they were reported to the Special Rapporteur, to enable it to take immediate action. The Special Rapporteur wishes to endorse this suggestion by the PCHR. He agrees with the Ambassador and Permanent Representatives of the Philippines that reporting alleged violations of human rights to him and to the PCHR at the same time would enable the wheels of justice to move faster and in the right direction. 4. Evaluation and recommendations 262. The long-yearned fall of the dictatorship of President Marcos in 1986 has not brought the Philippines the period of stability and concomitantly a restoration of the rule of law which was the goal of the peaceful and bloodless revolution. The nation is deeply divided and even the armed forces, the most powerful entity in the country, are fragmented. The ongoing hostilities with an influential insurgent force provides a situation of internal strife which so often is conducive to violations of human rights. The ultimate aim of suppressing armed insurgency is seen as the highest value under such circumstances. In the case of the Philippines the situation is worsened by the fact that certain urban guerrilla units (the so-called sparrow-units) attack and kill personnel belonging to the armed forces and the police. The fact that they operate in quasi-anonimity contributes to the sphere of suspicion and mutual fear, for in the eyes of the military each citizen may be a potential threat. Human rights organizations which come to the support of persons who allegedly have been deprived of their most basic rights are themselves seen as allies of the insurgents and consequently are harassed. It is for this reason that the decision of the Supreme Court of 9 July 1990 on warrantless arrest, referred to earlier, has drawn so much criticism. The Special Rapporteur was informed that this decision might even lead to the curtailment of other fundamental rights like freedom of expression and of peaceful assembly. If a person can be arrested on the suspicion of