Philippines: Senate bill seeks to empower CHR

A bill has been filed in the Senate which aims to grant prosecutorial powers to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

According to Sen. Chiz Escudero, author of Senate Bill 1437, giving prosecutorial powers and witness protection programs to CHR will fully realize the group’s mandate under the constitution as guardian of human rights.

In an earlier case, the Supreme Court has ruled that the CHR can only make recommendations, rendering the commission powerless to go after violators of human rights.

"This is also the reason witnesses and whistleblowers are afraid to go to the commission, especially when those involved are powerful and identified with the administration," Escudero, chair of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, said in a statement.

Date: 21 April 2009

Source: Philstar.com