CHR on Du30 Sona: ‘We have unanimity’ on rights issues

Jose Luis Martin “Chito” Gascon, chairman, Commission on Human Rights INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has taken an optimistic view of President Duterte’s first State of the Nation Address (Sona), choosing to focus on points for agreement.

Sought for comment after Duterte’s Sona, CHR chair Jose Luis “Chito” Gascon remained upbeat.

“At the first instance, I welcome the clear references to the importance and centrality to human rights, due process, and rule of law that President Duterte mentioned in first his Sona, as well as his reference to not tolerating any abuse of authority from erring law enforcement,” Gascon said.

Duterte had warned police officers and other officials that “there will be hell to pay” for abuse of authority.

“We have unanimity that rights are about affirming dignity. I assure the government that complying with human rights obligations are about uplifting all humanity and preventing abuses by holding perpetrators to account, and I am encouraged by the commitment expressed by the President that human rights would be upheld and fulfilled,” Gascon said.

“Complying with them will never provide a shield to wrongdoing or destroy the nation, rather they promote fairness, justice, and development. The CHR is ready to engage government to achieve this,” Gascon added.

During the Sona, Duterte had stressed: “Human rights must work to uplift human dignity, but human rights cannot be used as a shield or as an excuse to destroy the country.”

The statement seems an oblique reference to Duterte’s hardline position that criminals, particularly narcotics criminals, are fair-game for killings or extrajudicial methods. Indeed, later on in his speech, Duterte had ad libbed: “Kung ayaw mo mamatay, huwag ka mag-drugs. Wag ka umasa sa human rights or sa mga pari, at di nyan mapipigilan ang pagpatay sayo.”

But Duterte had also assured, during his Sona: “My administration shall be sensitive to the State’s obligations to promote, protect, fulfill the rights of our citizens, especially the poor, the marginalized and the vulnerable, and social justice shall be pursued, even as the rule of law shall prevail at all times.”

Duterte is famously at odds with the CHR, tracing back to his time as Davao mayor when vigilante killings of criminals had also been rampant in the city. TVJ

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