This was stressed here yesterday by CHR chair Chito Gascon who has been expressing concern over Duterte’s declarations that would seem to violate human rights.
“We want to give (Duterte) the benefit of doubt notwithstanding what was said during the campaign period,” Gascon said during a press conference after the inauguration of the P14-million CHR building donated by the Spanish government under its Fortaleza program.
Gascon said the CHR should not be perceived as “enemy” of any administration, but a rather a “referee” that points to the government any possible violations 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 signatory.
“There is only one convention to which the Philippines is not yet signatory and that is the convention on forced disappearances,” he said.
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, as the CHR 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.
He noted that in February next year, the Philippines is slated for a United Nations (UN) audit on human rights record and that this would be repeated in 2022. “This will be an opportunity for the administration to show what is has done for human rights,” he said.
“Now that Duterte is forming his team, we can only hope that he will include someone who is concerned with human rights,” he added.
This, even as Gascon vowed to lobby in Congress against Duterte’s proposal to restore the death penalty by hanging.
“We will work with Congress, participate in hearings and deliberations and explain that on the global scene, countries are moving away from the death penalty which has no place in civilized society,” he said.
