Robredo commends public’s response to P1,000 budget for CHR

Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday commended Filipinos' vocal response to the House of Representatives' vote to give the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) a measly budget of P1,000 for 2018.

"Tingin ko tama lang iyong reaksyon ng publiko, kasi alam niyo, nangyayari iyong pang-aabuso ng gobyerno kapag hindi tayo nagsasalita," Robredo told reporters during a turnover of donations in Balangkayan, Eastern Samar.

"Tama na kapag mayroong mali na nakikita, iboboses, kasi ito iyong magpapaalala sa ating mga opisyal na mayroon parating limitasyon iyong kapangyarihan na ibinibigay sa atin," she added.

With a vote of 119-32, the House of Representatives on Tuesday approved 1-SAGIP party-list Representative Rodante Marcoleta's motion to reduce the CHR's 2018 budget to P1,000.

Marcoleta argued during his interpellation that the commission should have been investigating all human rights violations, regardless of group affiliations.

Robredo earlier said that the decision of the Congress to cut the budget of the Commission is a sign of disrespect toward not only to the Constitution but also to human rights.

She also reiterated the importance of the Commission's mandate which was created under the 1987 Constitution to investigate human rights abuses.

"[I]yong pinakamandato ng CHR, siya iyong mag-iimbestiga ng lahat ng pang-aabuso ng karapatang pantao ng mga alagad ng Estado ... Napaka-powerful ng estado, so kailangan may special body na nag-aasikaso," Robredo said.

"Kung aalisan natin ng kapangyarihan iyong Commission on Human Rights, saan na dudulog iyong mga nagiging biktima ng karahasan noong Estado?" she added..

The vote of the House drew the ire of netizens, who even proposed to raise funds for the body themselves. — BM, GMA News