Methods of Torture

Despite international and domestic legal safeguards, torture in the Philippines continues to be a widespread practice. Over the past three decades the consistency of the specific techniques of torture has been marked:

	Placing a plastic bag over the head and holding it tightly at the back to induce suffocation (known as "dry submarine" or "sinupot")
	Giving electro-shocks either directly onto the skin, or with water poured over the body and bare electric wires touched against the genitals, lips, ears, arms or legs.
	Placing or tying a cloth over the face and pouring or dripping water over the cloth to induce gradual suffocation (known as "water cure") while interrogators stand or place weight on the stomach. Water is also poured directly into the nostrils or mouth, or the head forced down toilet bowls or into water containers.
	Assault, including being punched with fists (at times with bullets held between the interrogator's fingers), beaten with rifle-butts or batons wrapped in newspaper or other material (known as "mauling") concentrated in the stomach area, which tends not to leave any visible bruising.
	Burning the skin (including the lips, nipples and ears) with cigarettes.
	Forcing the suspect to drink urine, stagnant water, etc.
	Placing chili peppers on the suspect's eyes or genitals, or inserting the detainee's penis into bottles containing gasoline mixed with chili.

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