No more CHR? No problem, say Lorenzana, Dela Rosa

Bea Cupin

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No more CHR? No problem, say Lorenzana, Dela Rosa

Malacañan Photo

President Duterte's two top security officials agree with the chief executive's sentiments on the Commission on Human Rights

MANILA, Philippines – Human rights groups may find value in the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) but for President Rodrigo Duterte and at least two of his top security officials, it’s an institution whose functions won’t be missed.

Okay lang sa akin, walang problema. Okay kay presidente, okay rin sa akin (It’s fine with me, it’s not a problem. If it’s okay with the president, then it’s okay with me),” said Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald dela Rosa on Tuesday, July 25, when asked about Duterte’s earlier rant against the constitutional commission.

In a press conference after his second State of the Nation Address on July 24, Duterte lashed out anew against the CHR and said it is “better abolished.”

The CHR is a constitutional body tasked to investigate allegations of human rights abuses by state actors such as the military or police. It is not under any branch of government. It can only be abolished by changing the provisions that created it in the 1987 Charter.

Jose Luis Martin “Chito” Gascon, CHR chairperson, said Tuesday that Duterte’s pronouncements “remove any doubt regarding the attitude his administration will take towards respecting the human rights guarantees enshrined in the Constitution.”

Gascon said the commission will continue to do its work. “Any discussion to abolish CHR or any other institution for that matter can be taken in the proposed constitutional-reform process… in other words, we shall cross the bridge when we get there. I remain hopeful human rights would still be affirmed,” he said in a statement.

Asked to explain why he was fine with the abolition of the CHR, Dela Rosa said: “May CHR or wala, pag ang pulis magviviolate ng human rights, magviviolate talaga yan (Whether the CHR is there or not, if a copy wants to violate human rights, he will violate human rights)… I’m just being practical. With or without CHR, we can do our jobs properly without violating the rights of the people.”

Delfin Lorenzana, who as Defense Secretary supervises the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), initially hesitated to react to Duterte’s statement.

“I don’t want to talk about that. That’s a constitutional body,” he said.

But later he said he agreed with Dela Rosa’s stand. “There are practical reasons for the CHR sa tingin ko marami rin (there are also) disadvantage like sometimes people are prevented from doing their jobs because people are afraid of the consequences of the CHR,” said the defense secretary.

“On the whole I agree with Bato because when we took our oath of office ang pinaka importante sa oath namin is to (the most important oath is to) protect the Constitution… ano ang pinaka importante na part ng (what’s the most important part of the) Constitution? It’s the bill of rights,” he added.

Asked about fears that abuses in the military would go unchecked without the CHR, Lorenzana insisted that the military justice system in place is more than enough.

“I will check and I will balance the PNP,” said Dela Rosa.

Both the AFP and the PNP have been plagued by allegations of human rights abuses.

Under the Duterte administration, the PNP has been accused of violating human rights in the name of the drug war.

The military, meanwhile, has been accused of violating human rights amid the declaration of martial law over Mindanao. Both institutions have denied these allegations, asking their accusers to file cases before the proper institutions. – Rappler.com

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Bea Cupin

Bea is a senior multimedia reporter who covers national politics. She's been a journalist since 2011 and has written about Congress, the national police, and the Liberal Party for Rappler.