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‘Relax lang,’ Recto tells Alvarez over remark on CHR budget


Senate President Pro Tempo Ralph Recto on Friday said Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez should just “relax” on the issue of budgetary allocation for the Commission on Human Rights (CHR). 

“Relax lang. The government says EJK (extrajudicial killing) is not state-sponsored then it should not be afraid of providing more resources to CHR, the duly-constituted office whose mandate is to protect human rights,” Recto pointed out. 

“It cannot be denied that there are too many [recent] killings, including [that of] children,” he said.

In an interview on GMA News’ Unang Balita earlier in the day, Alvarez said Recto should use his own money to restore the disapproved portion of the CHR’s budget.

“Eh dagdagan niya ng pera niya kung 'yon ang gusto niya,” Alvarez said.

Alvarez said the House of Representatives will stand firm on its decision to slash the P678-million budget of CHR to a measly P1,000.

Recto meanwhile said the CHR may need an even higher budget because of the spate of EJKs.

Recto said government institutions, including the CHR, must be strengthened.

“I believe the President when he says he has not ordered it. But it is highly possible that there are rogue policemen abusing their authority,” Recto said.

Majority of senators have said that they will fight to restore the CHR’s full budget in the discussions of the bicameral conference committee on the proposed 2018 budget. — Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez/RSJ/KVD, GMA News

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