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[av_heading heading=’ABOVE THE LAW’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY AYIN DREAM D. APLASCA
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Thursday. September 14, 2017
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IT WAS A rainy afternoon but the debate heated up against the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on its 2018 budget. Imagine, a P1,000 budget for the entire fiscal year of 2018.
How can the CHR do its functions mandated under the 1987 Philippine Constitution? Is it enough?
Let me discuss the outstanding functions of the CHR and let’s see if the P1,000 budget is justifiable.
The primary function of the CHR is to handle investigations on human rights violations. It ensures that the government respect and protects the human rights of all Filipinos. It sees to it that the government accomplishes its roles to guarantee the rights of the people.
The rights protected by the CHR can be found in Article III of the Constitution. It is titled the Bill of Rights. It has 22 sections which state all the rights and privileges of the Filipino people. It also covers various international laws such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).
The Commission also provides legal measures for all as well as legal aid services to the underprivileged whose human rights have been violated or need protection. It also grants immunity from prosecution to any person whose testimony or whose possession of documents or other evidence is necessary or convenient to determine the truth in any investigation conducted by it or under its authority.
The rights guaranteed under the Constitution are not only for criminals. These rights can and may be availed by ordinary people so that they can freely live.
With all these roles, can the CHR function properly with only P1,000 budget for 2018? I disagree.
The government is the vital duty bearer for all the rights violated by our fellow citizens, as well by the police and the military. Now, what happened?
Rights cannot be divided. There is no such thing as democracy that applies to another but different to others. The fight for human rights is for everyone. And the fight for P1,000 is a fight for everyone.
(Atty. Ayin Dream D. Aplasca practices her profession in Iloilo City. She may be reached thru ayindream.aplasca@gmail.com/PN)
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