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JUNE 25, 2012 DATE

NR # 2781B
REF. NO.

Stronger and independent CHR pushed


An independent and stronger Commission on Human Rights is what lawmakers envision under a consolidated bill now in its final stages in the House of Representatives. The bill has been approved by the House Committee on Human Rights chaired by Rep. Rene Relampagos (1st District, Bohol) and subsequently forwarded to the Committee on Appropriations for its funding provisions. Relampagos said the bill seeks to strengthen the CHR by clearly defining its mandate under the 1987 Constitution, underlining its independence as a constitutional office not subject to instructions or orders from the President, Congress or Judiciary, except in cases provided by the 1987 Charter. Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Taada III (4th District, Quezon), one of the authors of the measure, said the bill also grants full fiscal autonomy to the Commission, thereby ensuring its independence from the Government. Taada said the bill vests the Commission with primary and original jurisdiction to investigate, upon complaint or motu propio, cases of human rights violations, which are civil and political in nature, including violations of economic, social and cultural rights. The proposed measure also defines the general powers and functions of the Commission, which include the power to deputize government prosecutors or private lawyers, who shall be under the direct control and supervision of the Commission, for the prosecution of human rights cases. The measure will establish human rights resource centers nationwide, which shall function as repositories of human rights issues and concerns at the local level. Likewise, it allows the Commission to preventively suspend any officer or employee with the exception of Members of Congress, the Judiciary and impeachable officials, pending an investigation and after summary hearing, if in its judgment, there exists valid legal grounds to effect the suspension, the authors said. The bill empowers the Commission to exercise its concurrent prosecutorial powers and functions in the event of failure or refusal of the prosecuting arm of the government to either conduct the preliminary investigation within a specified period of time, or to act accordingly upon the receipt of the Commissions resolution finding probable cause, the authors stressed. The co-authors of the bill are Reps. Karlo Alexei B. Nograles (1st District, Davao City), Salvador Escudero III (1st District, Sorsogon), Luzviminda Ilagan (Gabriela Party-list), Rafael Mariano (Party-list, Anakpawis) Orlando Fua (Lone District, Siquijor) and Relampagos. (30) dpt

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