CHR-7 not worried about Duterte’s threat

The president's threat has not deterred the Commission on Human Rights (CHR)-7 to pursue its mandate of investigating possible human rights violations the present government may have committed.

CHR-7 Regional Director Atty. Arvin Odron said he is “definitely not threatened” by the recent pronouncement of the president, particularly his call to investigate CHR officials for alleged conspiracy with the criminals and a threat to shoot for obstructing justice.

“As the official national human rights institution, we do not operate that way.

Being the conscience of the government on matters related to human rights, CHR only monitors the government's compliance with its treaty obligations to respect, to protect, and to fulfill human rights,” he wrote in a text message.

He noted that treaties are the primary source of international law and States that ratify these treaties are bound by it, including the Philippines.

As a matter of policy, he said the Philippine government even adopts the generally accepted principles of international law as part of the law of the land.

Odron wanted to emphasize that these threats made by the highest ranking official of the state will not hinder them from performing their duty to ensure that all victims of human rights abuses “have access to remedy.”

He reiterated that the commission is only performing its constitutional mandate when it probes any potential human rights violations committed by government forces.

The CHR-7 official admitted he was a bit concerned by Duterte's earlier pronouncements directing security forces to shoot CHR personnel if they are found obstructing justice.

“To be certain, performance of a constitutional mandate can never be equated with obstruction of justice,” he said.

He added law enforcers are authorized only to use their firearms if under the prevailing circumstances, first, their lives are put in imminent threat or second, there is imminent threat of "serious physical injuries."

“I cannot (understand) how the investigations of the CHR will put the lives of the law enforcement or the security sector in imminent threat or will result to imminent threat of serious physical injuries to them that will justify the use of firearms by shooting the CHR personnel,” he lamented.

Until now, Odron said the regional office of the commission continues to closely monitor drug-related killings of suspects under government custody, that is, in the aspect of human rights protection.

“We really need to investigate all the circumstances of death in police custody or the allegations of ‘nanlaban' to ensure that the rights of all persons, without discrimination, are duly protected particularly during police operations and that all police operations are done with due regard to human rights and the rule of law is being observed,” he said.