EDITORIAL - De Lima and naked Cebu detainees

Chito Gascon, the chairman of the Commission on Human Rights, was one of the first persons to see Leila de Lima in detention. For an agency that is sometimes too slow to act on situations that truly require its intervention, Gascon was more than really quick on this one. But the question now is — was he there to make sure de Lima does not get deprived of her rights, or was he there to lend moral support to a Liberal Party stalwart whose nominal head, Noynoy Aquino, he owes his job?

If it was because of the former, then Gascon should have spared himself the trouble. De Lima is a senator of the republic and remains to be so, her detention notwithstanding. In a country where politics is king, not even the most shameful of accusations can totally extinguish the perks and privileges of politicians. De Lima as it is will get to retain her power and her influence, even behind bars, and even without Gascon intervening.

If, on the other hand, Gascon went to see de Lima to please Aquino, then he just did what many have long been suspecting — that politics seems to color many of his official and unofficial actions. When a Liberal Party stalwart like de Lima gets into trouble, he is there quick as a bell, to comfort and to solace. But if it is the "hated" administration of President Duterte that is under fire, he is there even quicker, to needle and harangue.

For situations beyond the pale of politics, it takes great shaking to energize the CHR into action. There are daily apolitical occurrences in this country that makes people wonder if there is even a CHR, or a CHR for matters with absolutely no value in politics. People, as ordinary as they come, are getting caught up every day in situations that beg for even the slightest respect for their rights and dignity.

For example, in Cebu City last Tuesday, hundreds of detainees at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center were roused from sleep in the dead of night and made to strip naked while the authorities searched their quarters for anything illegal. And while drugs, cellphones and money were indeed found and deserved attention, almost nothing was heard about the rousing and stripping of the detainees, least of all from the CHR and Gascon.

Raids such as this, while perhaps lawful, still ought to require the presence of some representative from the CHR. If it is Gascon himself, so much the better. These people, because of their circumstances, are often ignored when it comes to rights and dignity. Interestingly, they are in exactly the same situation as Leila de Lima — except that de Lima is more assured of her rights and dignity than they are. And yet it is de Lima who gets paid a visit by no less than the CHR chief.