PRESS RELEASE. 26 September 2013 Human Rights Group: Investigate Corruption and Other Human Rights Violations of CHR Commissioners A human rights group demanded today that acts of corruption and corruptive practices of some Commissioners of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) be investigated. The Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) publicly presented the state of the said Commission as written in their earlier letter sent to President Benigno Aquino. According to the Alliance, which has made an evaluation of the CHR with 20 other civil society organizations last November 2012, it found the CHR with a fragmented leadership with below-par performance. Recent actions of alleged human rights abuse and violations of some Commissioners had surfaced from the staffs of two Commissioners – Commissioners Norberto de la Cruz and Cecilia Raquel Quisumbing. Cited, among others, were using violence against a driver, ill-treatment of the staff and cases of corruption, such as turning CHR drivers into family drivers and tolerating minimal presence in work but collecting full salaries. Ms. Regina Eugenio, former staff of Commissioner Quisumbing, strongly condemned the inhuman and ill-treatment she and other staff experienced. “Hindi na naming masikmura ang pagyurak sa aming dignidad at pagkatao,” (We could no longer stand the trampling on our dignity and humanity.) Ms Eugenio explained as the reason for their resignation. The said staff no longer wanted to be treated like “robots”. Ms. Eugenio and her co-staff’s resignations were stopped and were instead unjustly fired by Commissioner Quisumbing. “Makakatanggap pa sila ng retirement pension mula sa gobyerno sa kabila ng kanilang paglabag sa karapatang pantao!” indignantly expressed by Mr. Nemesio Mendoza, former driver of Commissioner Norberto de la Cruz. “The present situation is unacceptable,” said Max de Mesa, Chairperson of PAHRA, “and must not be tolerated any further.” After receiving unsubstantive response from the Commissioners themselves when the evaluation and these incidents have been discreetly but formally conveyed, PAHRA had written the President, who is the appointing authority for the Commissioners of the CHR. It must be called to mind that in two years time, President Aquino has to appoint a new set of Commissioners. PAHRA’s National Executive Committee (NEC), in its letter, has called on the President, as Chief Executive and Appointing Authority that to ensure the irreversible shift of his administration to a paradigm of human rights: To designate an independent committee of inquiry regarding these incidents, as well as their causes, and to recommend measures and actions that would strengthen the CHR; To take persuasive action on the two Commissioners so that they would take a leave of absence so as to obtain an environment of openness free of possible harassment and intimidation during the time of inquiry; To certify as urgent the passage of the new Charter of the CHR with the added provisions on the selection process of the Commissioners and the Mechanism for Transparency and Accountability of the Commissioners and Directors; To create a committee that would propose a process of selection for the next new members of the CHR similar to the selection of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. De Mesa emphasized that “this critique is not to destroy the CHR but rather to strengthen it as a primary institution of women and men who are suppose to be guides and guardians of human rights.” “And ensuring the State’s obligations on human rights are fulfilled,” he added. ###
Posted on: Fri, 27 Sep 2013 01:46:00 +0000
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