Lawmakers raise President Duterte’s clenched fist salute after defunding the Commission on Human Rights and approving the 2018 budget bill on second reading. Photo courtesy of the House of Representatives.
Filipinos took to social media to express their disappointment over the House of Representatives’ slashing of the 2018 annual budget of the Commission of Human Rights (CHR) to a measly P 1,000.00 on Tuesday night.
Netizens vented their ire on social media, demanding a list of lawmakers who voted for the CHR’s meager budget.
You've insulted Human Rights, Give us the list who voted 'aye' and we'll retaliate by exercising our right to suffrage.
.#CHRBudgetCheaper— Law Students of Manila (@LawStdntsofMNL) September 12, 2017
Some started a crowdfunding campaign for CHR, while some demanded that their tax be given to the constitutional body instead of empowering the police with more budget to continue its “Operation Tokhang.”
Voting 119-32, legislators at the lower House approved the allocation of only P1,000 to the CHR after SAGIP party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta moved to cut the proposed 2018 budget of the agency amounting to P 649.484 million.
House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez earlier threatened to give the CHR a budget that would make the constitutional body non-operational. Legislators claimed that the CHR failed to perform its mandate that it deserves a P1,000-budget for next year. /kga
Below are some of the posts about the issue:
https://twitter.com/ExeCaliber/status/907563083752660992
I did the math. Here's why #CHRBudgetCheaper [sic] than so many things.
This is a thread, a sad and troubling Twitter thread.
— YLS (@YourLawyerSays) September 12, 2017
#CHRBudgetCheaper than Isabelle Duterte's OOTD
— Lesly 🌙 (@breathlesslyb) September 12, 2017
Anyone excited about Apple's event tomorrow? New iPhone is expected to cost 50x that of Philippine Human Rights. #CHRBudgetCheaper
— Jobo (@ceowin) September 12, 2017
You know what's cheaper than CHR's budget?
THIS GOVERNMENT'S DIGNITY.
GISING NA PILIPINAS! Let's be more than a hashtag #CHRBudgetCheaper
— Linnaea (@Linnaeaea) September 12, 2017
#GiveMyTaxToCHR TANGGALIN ANG BUONG Presidential Comms Office & give their budget to CHR. We don't need ur inept propaganda @martinandanar! https://t.co/7kJmDAkXvO
— MyRizal (@MyRizalPH) September 12, 2017
Congress is indeed a place where salt and freshwater Crocodiles meet. This is where your taxes go. Tsk. #GiveMyTaxToCHR pic.twitter.com/7lKdkwnd5U
— Jake Russell (@jakeagravante) September 12, 2017
https://twitter.com/rencedgreat/status/907596341139841024
#GiveMyTaxToCHR so we can be defended against human rights abuses committed by rogue PNP. pic.twitter.com/Vg4v0YnX7t
— Leah Navarro (@leahnavarro) September 12, 2017
PHP1,000 for CHR but
PHP900M for PNP?Then let's get this campaign started. #GiveMyTaxToCHR pic.twitter.com/L6lnr5io4n
— Von Yacob (@heycaloy) September 12, 2017
https://twitter.com/GirlsBibIe/status/907588253045235712
Government officials should be paid according to their performance, don't you think?#SuperficialGazette #GiveMyTaxToCHR pic.twitter.com/ED9vealxaV
— Superficial Gazette (@SuperficialGZT) September 12, 2017