Commission on Human Rights charter passage sought

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) yesterday appealed to senators to pass the proposed CHR Charter that would strengthen the investigative and quasi-judicial powers of the commission.

On Wednesday, senators agreed to postpone deliberations on the C-5 road controversy to concentrate on passing priority bills on second and third reading in the three remaining session days next week.

“There is no better time than now to pass the charter as it has covered much ground in convincing legislators that the Commission must exercise its constitutional powers to the full extent of laws without being stymied by many interpretations of unspecified or unelaborated concepts such as legal and protective measures,” CHR chair Leila de Lima said.

“The CHR Charter should be seen as a legacy of the 14th Congress... We are still hopeful that our legislators will continue to see the urgency in the measure.”

De Lima said the proposed charter is expected to give the commission greater independence by having its own budget, nominations committee, and a witness protection program separate from that administered by the Department of Justice.

The charter also proposes the designation of human rights attachés for the protection of Filipinos abroad, and expands the commission’s quasi-judicial powers by giving it “standby or residual prosecutorial powers” which enables the CHR to exercise prosecutorial powers on a case of human rights violation in the event that the government fails to act on it.

“One of the hallmarks of good government is to establish and maintain a strong national human rights institution that will serve as its conscience and acts if officials will be unwilling or unable to squarely address the unfettered violations of human rights in the country,” De Lima said.

The House of Representatives passed their version of the CHR Charter or House Bill 6822 on Sept. 16 last year. 

The Senate Committee on Human Rights and Justice is yet to pass its version of the proposed measure at the committee level. – With Paolo Romero, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Sheila Crisostomo, Katherine Adraneda