CHR sees ‘no conflict’ with new rights body

CHR Chair Richard Palpal-latoc —Russel Loreto

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said on Monday that it had “no conflict” with the Special Human Rights Committee that President Marcos established last week under Administrative Order (AO) No. 22.

“There is no conflict because we remain to be an independent body who will monitor the government’s compliance and also protect and promote human rights in the Philippines,” CHR Chair Richard Palpal-latoc said in an interview with reporters.

“Our data doesn’t come from the executive department. It’s probably the same for them — it doesn’t come from us. And we rely on our own monitoring or case records. And our observations,” said Palpal-latoc, the former deputy executive secretary for legal affairs who was appointed CHR chair in September 2022 by Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Palpal-latoc noted a provision in AO 22 citing the CHR as among the agencies the new committee “may invite as member and/or observer” of that body. He said that role was part of the CHR’s mandate.

‘Just another committee’

However, critics of the new directive questioned its exclusion of the CHR from the committee and its composition of agencies noted for their “poor record” on human rights.

According to AO 22, the executive secretary will head the committee, with the Department of Justice’s secretary as cochair and, the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s secretaries and the Department of Foreign Affairs’ members.

Butch Olano, director of the Philippines Section of Amnesty International, said the new human rights body “is a superfluous addition to an already convoluted justice system in the country.”

“[Mr.] Marcos cannot continue to mislead the country with a mere show of force when accountability for violations has been scarce, and human rights defenders continue to be arbitrarily arrested and charged, disappeared, or killed,” he said in a statement on Sunday.

In a forum on Monday, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas expressed concern that the new body “would be just another committee that will whitewash and window-dress the blatant and wanton state-sponsored human rights abuses.”

However, former Sen. Leila de Lima believes the “creation of a human rights coordinating body is a step in the right direction.”

Nevertheless, she cautioned against this new group becoming “an echo chamber of government propaganda [about] its human rights record.”

“The body should institutionalize feedback and consultation from the CHR and human rights NGOs (nongovernment organizations),” said De Lima, who served as CHR chair from 2008 to 2010.

Senators also expressed support for the new committee on Monday. Even Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III called it a “good idea to focus on strengthening the respect for human rights.”

Sen. Francis Escudero, in a statement, said: “I commend the President for taking this step. However, I sincerely hope that the intent and provisions of this issuance will be faithfully executed ‘down the line.’”

“[AO 22] is crucial not only [in] addressing human rights issues related to the previous Marcos regime but also [in] addressing concerns from the previous administration and the entire country,” Escudero said, referring to both the martial law regime of the President’s father and the administration of Mr. Marcos’ predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte.