Gascon nixes calls for resignation

Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chairman Chito Gascon vowed to reject calls for his resignation and expressed hope that President Duterte will address issues of national concern in a more honorable and dignified manner.

Over the weekend, Duterte mocked Gascon, who he said may be a pedophile or homosexual because of his preoccupation with cases of slain teenagers and children in the course of the government’s antiillegal drugs campaign.

Duterte also claimed that Gascon is criticizing the government’s policies because of his strong ties with the once ruling Liberal Party.

Gascon, instead, appealed to the President to elevate public discourse in a more statesman demeanor.

Gascon added that perhaps the President should renege on uttering hurtful statements to allow a common breathing space for opposing sides to discuss things in a more subtle and refined manner.

Earlier, Gascon brushed off claims that he is involved in any form of partisanship since heading the CHR in 2014 as he pleaded with the president not to resort to his “hurtful” name-calling actions against his perceived enemies.

Despite being almost pressured to resign with Congress giving CHR a P1,000 budget for 2018, Gascon vowed to stay put, citing the need to defend the commission’s independence.

He vowed to stand his ground vowing to defend the CHR’s proposed P678 million budget.

CHR’s budget is set be forwarded to the Senate plenary for another round of deliberations.