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What Are Common Misconceptions Regarding The CHR?

Common misconceptions about the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) include that it protects criminals and is antagonistic towards the government. In reality, the CHR's mandate is to protect citizens from human rights abuses by state actors like the government, police, and military. However, the CHR struggles due to lack of resources from budget cuts and public misunderstanding of its role. To improve, the CHR needs to increase outreach to help the public understand its duties to monitor government conduct, not oppose the state. The Police (PNP) and CHR also should not be enemies and instead work cooperatively while respecting each other's roles - the PNP enforces law while the CHR oversees the

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Katleen Ann Layson
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198 views

What Are Common Misconceptions Regarding The CHR?

Common misconceptions about the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) include that it protects criminals and is antagonistic towards the government. In reality, the CHR's mandate is to protect citizens from human rights abuses by state actors like the government, police, and military. However, the CHR struggles due to lack of resources from budget cuts and public misunderstanding of its role. To improve, the CHR needs to increase outreach to help the public understand its duties to monitor government conduct, not oppose the state. The Police (PNP) and CHR also should not be enemies and instead work cooperatively while respecting each other's roles - the PNP enforces law while the CHR oversees the

Uploaded by

Katleen Ann Layson
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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1. What are common misconceptions regarding the CHR?

Through technology, it is easier to spread fake news and unreliable resources in our
social media. One of which is how badly people perceive the Commission on Human
Rights just because it calls out the current administration especially the president for his
statements that led to actions done by his men that undermine the rights of different
sectors. This has led to a number of solid supporters of the president and his
administration calling for the abolition of CHR because for them it seemed like the CHR
protects criminals. It is not the main function of the CHR to speak out about the crimes
done by non-government persons that is the function of the Philippine National Police or
the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The CHR said that its mandate is to be the
watchdog against government abuses and not to implement laws that would stop crime.
“It is the responsibility of the CHR to protect the rights of the people from abuse by state
agents such as the government, police and the military. The CHR was established after
the Martial Law, it is mandated to ensure that the government will not abuse and violate
its duty to protect the primary rights of the people. As said earlier, fanatics of the
government have been calling for the abolition of the commission which is not as easy
as they want to. The CHR was created by and is protected by the Constitution.
Abolishing the Commission on Human Rights will require an amendment to the 1987
Constitution which is a lengthy process.

2. What needs to be improved with the CHR?

The focus of the CHR's task is to speak about the atrocities being done by the state and
its law enforcers but this does not mean however that the commission cannot probe
cases involving non-state criminals. According to the agency's spokesperson Jacqueline
De Guia, they can still investigate crimes that involve vulnerable sectors and those that
include International Humanitarian Law. An example of this was when the commission
denounced the beheading of hostages done by the Abu Sayyaf. Unfortunately, due to
budget cuts done by members of the government there is lack of manpower and
resources in the CHR. Many Filipinos are going against the CHR because of how they
are portrayed by our lawmaker. This is due to the fact that not many people understand
their mandate or the government officials are intentionally making them look like
antagonists. The officials together with their blind followers and those Filipinos
indifferent to the abuses of the government just believe what they hear from our
lawmakers. Maybe if the commission can improve their reach, if they can let more
people know about their duties and purpose so the citizens can understand them more.
These will help them improve their service and will earn them the trust of many Filipinos.

3. Is CHR still needed in today’s time? Discuss.

For me, I believe the CHR is still important up to this day because of Martial Law like
events in our country nowadays. The mandate of the CHR is to be the conscience of the
government, to remind them of their sworn duties and responsibilities as law makers,
law enforcers, that is to protect everyone’s right to life and property regardless of their
race, sex, and economic status among others.

4. Is the PNP and CHR supposed to be enemies? How can we make them
work cohesively with one goal of the enforcement of the rule of law?

No, the PNP and CHR should not be enemies, both organizations should work together
to preserve peace and order in our country. The PNP should focus on how to enforce
the law especially among the public and private individuals. Although the CHR may help
them with that because they value everyone's human rights their main focus is to watch
out for how the government runs. They should keep our lawmakers and law enforcers in
check not to resort into abuses just to keep their power above others. I think first we
should let members of both organizations learn the mandate of each organization so as
to understand their similarities and differences. If they understand each other, they will
be able to work hand-in-hand in giving us all residents of the country a peaceful and
comfortable life in the present and the future.

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