CHR chair, 3 others probed over foreign training

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has asked the Office of the Ombudsman to open a preliminary investigation on Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc for allegedly receiving allowances during a training abroad, even when the event was fully funded by its sponsor.

Named in the NBI complaint are Palpal-latoc, CHR general administration office director Onesimo Cuyco, financial management office’s accounting division chief Maria Teresa Dolor and Russel Mani.

Palpal-latoc, whom President Marcos appointed in 2022, attended the 54th International Institute of Human Rights Summer School 2025, a month-long training funded by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom.

According to the NBI, Palpal-latoc’s receipt of daily subsistence allowance and representation expenses, puts him and his subordinates at risk of being charged with violating Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

In its investigation, the NBI found that the CHR did not disclose the foreign donor on the disbursement voucher for the training. The voucher passed through three levels despite the undisclosed sponsorship, missing documents and mismatched program documentation.

According to the NBI, Mani certified that the supporting documents were complete, Dolor noted that funds were available and Cuyco approved the voucher for payment.

The CHR has not yet issued a statement, as the CHREA, its employees’ association, called for a fair investigation and condemned the posting of identities and documents about the trip on social media.

“The CHREA respects the public’s right to scrutinize the use of government funds in the spirit of transparency and accountability. However, the posting of the names and other details of CHR personnel, without context or verification, has put our members at risk. Many of them were simply performing their official duties,” the association said yesterday.

“We call on all parties, including social media users and news outlets, to stop sharing unverified documents and personal information that may compromise the safety and dignity of our employees,” the group added.