CHR ready to work with Rody

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said it is ready to engage with President Rodrigo Duterte, who took his oath of office and officially assumed the highest post in the land Thursday.

 

“The CHR congratulates President Duterte on his inauguration to high office and wish him much success in pursuing his mandate,” Chairman Chito Gascon said. “The CHR looks forward to engaging with his administration on human rights as we each must do what we must.”

 

Gascon issued the statement minutes after Duterte, in his inaugural speech, called on the human rights body and the Congress to mind their work and let him mind his.

 

“Allow us a level of governance that is consistent to our mandate,” said Duterte, adding that he knows the limitations of the functions of his office.

 

In response, Gascon said they are heartened with Duterte’s affirmation to adhere to due process and rule of law in addressing issues that he would face during his incumbency.

 

“Such is all we hope and expect as this proceeds from the solemn oath he took,” added the CHR chief.

 

Duterte had been at odds with the human rights body over numerous issues in the past, more recently on his rape remark that resulted in a CHR resolution that found him liable for violating the Magna Carta of Women.

 

At one point, he called Gascon an “idiot” and stressed that he would not follow any directive from the CHR chairman.

 

Gascon, meanwhile, stressed that they are merely fulfilling their functions as mandated by the Constitution.

 

“He’s not inclined to cooperate with us, but we will not stop trying. Human rights is far too important as an issue and as an agenda that when he say he does not want to talk to us, we’ll give up,” he added.

In a recent interview with The STAR, Gascon said he would welcome an opportunity to meet with the president.

 

“He’s the chief executive, the head of state. I know he’s a busy person. I’m willing to wait, if the opportunity presents itself,” Gascon said.

 

While he is willing to meet with the president, Gascon said he is also not ruling out the possibility that the chief executive might ignore him and his office.

 

“If he chooses not to meet with me, I will not have sleepless nights about it. I will make every effort to engage his government, the different departments, the police, the Department of (the) Interior and Local Government, anyone who’s prepared to listen or even those who are not prepared to listen, so long as they have an impact on human rights, we will continue to press,” he added.

 

Amid calls for the commission’s abolition, the CHR chief stressed that they would continue to perform their mandate until such time that a charter change directs the dissolution of their office.

 

The creation of CHR was prescribed by the 1987 Constitution that was crafted after the fall of the dictatorship.

 

Gascon said he would not step down from office and would continue to fulfill his function until the end of his term in 2022.

 

“I take my duty seriously. I’ve been given a mandate, I should serve here seven years so I will perform that mandate so long as I am able to continue to do what I have taken an oath to do. I will pursue it until I finish my term, if I finish my term,” he said.