Alvarez wants zero budget for CHR

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez addresses the media after the opening of the 2nd session of the 17th Congress. MARC JAYSON CAYABYAB/INQUIRER.net

If Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez had his way, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) should have zero allocation for the national budget next year.

“Kung ako ang tatanungin ninyo e, zero kapag ganyan ang performance. Bakit? Hindi natin ia-abolish kasi constitutional budget, eh di wag mong bigyan ng budget yan,” Alvarez told reporters after the congressional budget hearing for the CHR on Monday.

Alvarez, a staunch ally of President Duterte, slammed the agency for supposedly defending criminals, who become victims of extra-judicial killings in the name of the administration’s drug war.

He chided the CHR for keeping mum on innocent civilians victimized by these criminals.

“Itong ating Commission on Human Rights ay ang pino-focus lang ay yung mga karapatan ng criminal at tipong wala silang pakialam dun sa karapatan nung mga biktima nitong mga criminal na ito,” he said.

“Matagal ko nang inoobserbahan ito na tuwing merong mga massacre na ginagawa itong mga criminals, itong mga drug addicts, tahimik sila,” he said.

“Parang Pasko sa kanila yun—yung Silent Night—walang comment,” he said.

“May mga insidente na may namatay at mayroon silang pagdududa na eto ay extra-judicial killing na ginawa nung ating mga [pulis] ay talagang maingay sila. Eh bakit naman gano’n? Akala ko ba ’yung human rights ay para sa lahat. Ay bakit namimili sila ng pinoprotektahan at inaalagaan na karapatan?” Alvarez added.

The CHR had stressed many times in the past that its mandate was to ensure that there will be no abuse or negligence on the part of the government in protecting and upholding the rights of all the citizens, especially the marginalized.

“If it is a civilian or private person who did the crime, such as killing or rape, it is the Philippine National Police (PNP) who has the duty and mandate to take action,” it said.