CHR eyes strengthening investigation powers, CHR charter

As a newly-appointed official of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Commissioner Beda Epres on Tuesday said he is looking to strengthen the investigation powers of the rights body and the creation of a charter.

“Gusto ko po palakasin yung investigation powers ng CHR kasi po ‘yun po ‘yung aking background. Para po mas may ngipin po ‘yung aming investigation,” Epres said in the Mangahas Inteviews.

(I want to strengthen the CHR’s investigation powers because that is my background. So our investigations will have teeth.)

He said he will recommend that the CHR would be the nominal complainant in sensational cases.

“Para po tuloy-tuloy ang aming monitoring ng cases. From the time of the fact-finding investigation hanggang sa filing ng complaint with the appropriate agencies. Tsaka hanggang sa Court po,” Epres said.

(So our monitoring of cases will be continuous. From the time of the fact-finding investigation to the filing of the complaint with the appropriate agencies. And up until the Court.)

Charter

Meanwhile, Epres said he also wants to create a charter for the CHR.

“Sa ngayon po kasi ayun ang wala namin. ‘Yun po ang wala ng CHR. Almost 30 years in existence na po ang CHR pero wala pa rin po sariling charter ang CHR,” he said.

(Because that is what we lack. That is what the CHR lacks. The CHR has existed for almost 30 years but we still don’t have our own charter.)

He said the powers and functions of the body will be clear through a charter.

Epres is set to serve a seven-year term, which is from 2022 until 2029. — Joahna Lei Casilao/RSJ, GMA Integrated News