By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
QUEZON CITY — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Thursday (Dec. 12) cited the members of the media as partners in the defense of human rights.
The CHR Commission en banc VI is composed of Chairperson Richard P. Palpal-latoc, Commissioner and Spokesperson Beda A. Epres, Commissionerd Faydah M. Dumarpa, Judge Monina A. Zenarosa (Ret.), and Judge Maria Amifaith S. Fider-Reyes (Ret.).
Atty. Jacqueline Ann de Guia, Officer-in-Charge of the Public Assistance and Strategic Communication Communication Office and CHR Executive Director, realized that without the media, it would not have been possible to give a light of hope to victims of human rights violations.
Guia noted that the media are the real human rights defenders who have a lonely journey.
“The Commission really appreciates you (media),” she said, adding that “the Commission and you (media) are partners.”
Guia noted that the media had witnessed earlier this year the launch of “Mismo”, a web-based media platform and the CHR serves with 15 regional offices currently.
The CHR has launched last Dec. 4 two posters in two different languages with QR Code.
These are *Nalabag ba ang iyong karapatang pantao? Hinaing mo, sagot ko. Magsumbong sa CHR”.
“Narito ang CHR. Hinaing mo, sagot ko. Magsumbong sa CHR.”
Palpal-latoc noted the risk and danger the members of the media have been going through in the performance of their journalistic profession.
He made sure that the CHR regional offices directly engage with the media.
The CHR Chief stressed that together we can create an ecosystem with the media and the community.
“Hindi natutulog ang Media,” he said.
“Tayo ang CHR. Handang maglingkod saan man, kailanman at kaninuman,” he added.
He said that after the Luzon inquiry, another one will follow probably next year.
“When we assumed office, we vowed to protect the human rights and uphold the Constitution,” he said.
He noted that the CHR has reached the P1-billion mark.
He stressed that their budget allocation is based on core mandates.
“Hopefully, by next year, fully digitalized na ang aming services,” he said.
The CHR will continue to defend the victims of red tagging, and protect the human rights defenders.
“There is a misconception in the mandate of the CHR itself,” Palpal-latoc said, adding that “We are the watchdog of the government to check and monitor abuses.”
The CHR is also currently actively engaging with various government agencies.
Palpal-latoc said that they are also engaged with the CSOs (Civil Society Organizations) in capacitating them to know their human rights.
“We also engage with the Higher Educational Institutions in the whole nation in the education, promotion, and protection of human rights,” he said.
The CHR also already has a partnership with the Commission on Elections for the upcoming May 12, 2025 national and local elections, particularly in monitoring the conduct of a peaceful and orderly elections taking into account the respect for human rights.
“We appeal to you to support us to amend our charter as it was based only on an Executive Order issued by President Cory Aquino,” Dumarpa said.
She added that the CHR really needs the help of the media in order to upgrade the charter of the commission.
Dumarpa said that they went through several roundtable discussions around the country to address the issues and concerns on human rights.
She also expressed the hope that the members of the media will even perform their profession more responsibly.
Fider-Reyes, the newest Commissioner, is the focal on health, mental health and even on HIV/AIDS.
She said that if a person is afflicted with AIDS, he also has human rights.
Zenarosa is the focal on migrant workers. She noted the increase in the number of women migrant workers.
She cited the case of Mary Jane Veloso, who is a migrant worker in Indonesia and was convicted of drug charges.
Veloso’s death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment and was reported to be deported back to the Philippines where she will serve her sentence.
The CHR Commission en banc earlier unveiled the 2024 Compendium and the CHR Mismo and the Contact Poster were presented.
The CHR also recognized the media partners’ support in human rights advocacy
