The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) renewed hopes that it could help improve the human rights situation in the country and make more people feel empowered in exercising their rights in the new year.
The constitutional commission also highlighted its quest in seeking truth and demanding accountability for victims of rights abuses, especially the more than 8,000 suspected drug users who were admitted killed in police operations without due process during the Duterte administration.
“Along the way, CHR found strength and support from various communities online and offline who have never wavered in speaking truth to power,” the commission said in a statement.
The CHR also hoped that more people will “feel empowered to exercise their right to expression and assembly in the interest of upholding social justice and democracy.”
2-man team
The CHR, which so far comprises only of chair Richard Palpal-latoc and Beda Epres, also expressed hope that President Marcos will soon name the three other commissioners.
Epres told the Inquirer in an interview that it was difficult to “function fully [as] there are acts that require three members [to serve as quorum],” like official actions and administrative functions, like approving staff movements.
He said the commission is set to meet with its regional directors by January so they could revise and approve the CHR’s rules of procedures to overcome this logistical challenge.
“As we always say, we cannot use [the gaps in the en banc] as an excuse not to discharge our mandate,” he said. “However we are hoping for at least one more appointee, so that we would not have to amend our existing rules of procedures too much.”
‘Strategic litigation’
However, both Palpal-latoc and Epres have promised to focus on the CHR’s mandate to prioritize violations of civil and political rights like their predecessors.
Already they have plans to strengthen the CHR’s investigation powers “because we want the public to feel and know of our work,” Epres said.
The Constitution that created the commission limits its powers to investigate cases ahead of litigation and has no prosecutorial powers, like the Department of Justice.
However, Epres said they wanted to pursue “strategic litigation” that will involve the CHR from the fact-finding missions to the filing of complaints and being the nominal complainant itself, especially in cases of state abuses.
“For example, if someone has disappeared, then we would be the one to file a writ of habeas corpus,” Epres explained. “Instead of them running to the Public Attorney’s Office, we can be the ones to file it instead.”
Next year, two more United Nations special rapporteurs are set to visit the country upon the invitation of the government, including special rapporteur on freedom of expression and opinion Irene Khan and special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings Morris Tidball-Binz, both of whom are expected early 2023. INQ
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