By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
QUEZON CITY — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Monday (March 31) conducted the whole-day 2025 Training on Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) to Reporting at Luxent Hotel geared towards fostering collaboration between the CHR and the media.
CHR Chairperson Richard P. Palpal-latoc, in his speech, welcomed the participants in the first Training on Human Rights-based Approach to Reporting.
“This gathering is one of the commitments of the Commission,” Palpal-latoc said.
“Hindi lamang technicalities ang dahilan kaya nandito tayo. We will go beyond formalities,” he added.
“Alam nating mahirap ang mga hamong ito sa panahong ito,” Palpal-latoc said, adding that “Hindi naman dapat maging kumplikado ang human rights.”
He stressed that the concept of human rights is difficult to grasp.
“Mula sa Commission on Human Rights, nagpapasalamat kami sa inyo bilang truth tellers,” he said.
Palpal-latoc said that the stand of the Commission has been consistent with the stand of the previous Commission in so far as human rights is concerned, adding that, the mandate of the Commission is to protect human rights of Filipinos whether here or abroad despite the threat of a “zero budget” for the CHR.
He clarified that the CHR is a human rights watchdog and technically, the CHR is an independent Constitutional body which protects the marginalized and the underprivileged.
“We are ‘Status 1’ in the international human rights organization in protecting and upholding human rights,” Palpal-latoc said.
The CHR Chairperson noted that the mandate of the Commission as a “bridge” between the people and the government is being ignored.
“We have a diverse role — to criticize and to help,” Palpal-latoc said.
CHR Executive Director & PASCO (Public Affairs and Strategic Communication Office) Head Atty. Jacqueline Ann C. De Guia said that today is a milestone for the CHR.
“We are holding the first Human Rights-Based Approach to Reporting.It is an undertaking of the PASCO,” De Guia said.
“We aim to integrate human rights in digital content and reporting,” she added.
“The sixth objective is to strengthen collaboration between CHR and media partners,” De Guia said.
She likened the CHR as the “conscience” of the nation, saying that as an independent Constitutional body, “we are also a partner of the government.”
De Guia said that the members of the media are also one of their clients as they also belong to the marginalized and underprivileged sector of the society.
Jan Victor Mateo, a professor from University of the Philippines, lectured on Journalism & Human Rights.
Mateo delved deeply on the concept of Human Rights beat, noting that the so-called “Elliptical Beat” also covers the CHR, especially with the official statements coming from the CHR.
Mateo has covered three previous Commission En Banc sessions.
Human rights include the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion, and expression, the right to work and education, and many more.
“Let’s go back to be humans first before becoming journalists,” Mateo said.
“Everyone is entitled to these rights, without discrimination,” he stressed.
“We started seeing bodies of people being piled up in 2016,” Mateo said.
“Nahahighlight and CHR pag mayroong namatay,” he added.
Mateo cited the Bill of Rights and Universal Declaration of Human Rights, among others.
“Human rights is not only limited to the CHR such that education, health and environment are also concepts of human rights with corresponding duty bearers,” he said.
Politics, justice, health, education, environment, crime, agriculture, transportation, labor, local governments, business and entertainment also involve human rights concepts and issues.
The challenges in human rights reporting are human rights stories don’t sell, conflict of interest, providing context, limited access to information, climate of fear, traumatized victims, security and safety risks, and dealing with stress.
The tips for journalists reporting on human rights issues are understand the legal and human rights frameworks, ensure accuracy and provide context, listen to the marginalized and disadvantaged, make the interesting significant and the significant interesting, collaborate and seeks experts on issues, and consider ethical implications.
Lian Nami Buan, on Ethics and Media Integrity, said that to some extent, Filipinos care about human rights.
Buan cited the SWS January 2020 survey which showed that 76% believe that human rights.
She noted the key points such as “endorsement is different from commitment, but we move from apathy to fear and of course, disinformation.”
Buan cited the case in the killing of Kian Delos Santos, who was a good boy.
She also cited for examples the cases of former Calauan, Laguna Mayor Antonio Sanchez, who was convicted of murder and rape, former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo and former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte where human rights and due process are equal.
The assessment of power imbalance will come in the cases of Sanchez, Guo and Duterte who held power.
Article 125 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) can be invoked when questioning the police and prosecutor about the rights of a suspect.
During the time of President Duterte, there were the so-called “continuing crimes” such as “libel”.
“The longer you cover, the more you will want to sound like a lawyer. Resist it,” Buan said.
“As the nation is divided, polarized, there is a need to bring people back to the center that is to know what is their common ground,” she added.
“Human rights is a habit such that always frame news with context on the headline, lead, and thumbnail,” Buan said.
“Human rights is a leap of faith,” which for Buan, is one of the most powerful messages. ###
