‘CHR not Duterte enemy, only human rights referee’

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – An official of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) assured the administration of incoming president Rodrigo Duterte that the agency should not be considered an “enemy” of the next government but as a mere referee to uphold human rights.

”We want to give (Duterte) the benefit of the doubt, notwithstanding what was said during the campaign period,” CHR chairman Chito Gascon said during a press conference after the inauguration yesterday of the P14-million CHR building here donated by the Spanish government.

Gascon had raised concern over Duterte’s declaration to kill criminals that could violate human rights.

Gascon said the CHR would remain independent, as he pointed out that he and five members of his board have fixed terms up to May 5, 2022 since the commission is a constitutional body like the Civil Service Commission and the Commission on Audit. He said the CHR is willing to sit down with Duterte to tackle human rights issues.

The CHR should not be perceived as an enemy of any administration but rather a referee that would caution the government regarding any possible violation of the Bill of Rights, the social and political rights as identified in Article 13 of the Constitution, as well as rights identified in international conventions of which the Philippines is a signatory. “There is only one convention to which the Philippines is not yet signatory and that is the convention on forced disappearances,” he said. He noted that in February next year, the Philippines is slated for a United Nations audit on human rights record and this would be repeated in 2022.

“This will be an opportunity for the administration to show what it has done for human rights. Now that Duterte is forming his team, we can only hope that he will include someone who is concerned with human rights,” he added.

Gascon also vowed to lobby in Congress and oppose Duterte’s proposal to restore the death penalty by hanging.

“We will work with Congress, participate in hearings and deliberations to explain that on the global scene, countries are moving away from the death penalty that has no place in civilized society,” he said. –