CHR chief 'scolds' Noy

MANILA, Philippines - Commission on Human Rights Chairman Loretta Ann Rosales yesterday publicly scolded President Aquino like an inattentive pupil in class during the observance of Human Rights Day at Malacañang.

The former congresswoman of party-list group Akbayan called the attention of the Chief Executive halfway into her lengthy speech at the Heroes’ Hall inside the Palace grounds.

“Mr. President, listen,” Rosales said before an audience that included members of the diplomatic corps and militant groups.

The comment drew a measured amount of laughter from the audience.

Before she delivered her speech, which also celebrated the 62nd anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of which Philippines is a signatory, Rosales told the crowd Aquino had reminded her to “keep it short and sweet.”

But true to her usual form, Rosales’ speech turned out to be the longest, and she had to keep reassuring the crowd, “I’m about to finish.”

The speech Rosales gave reporters was six pages long, and included a report on her first 100 days in office.

Rosales was supposed to give another “short message” after Justice Secretary Leila de Lima following their signing of the implementing rules and regulations of the Anti-Torture Law, but this did not happen.

When it was Aquino’s turn to speak, the President gave as good as he got, telling the audience to pay attention because “there will be a short quiz afterwards.”

“Be sure Etta, as our teacher, is effective and that we will be firm advocates of that which we will espouse,” the President remarked. 

“Etta knows how much we are allied in this cause. I wonder how she discusses this with people who are not her allies in the human rights cause,” he said.