Lawmakers welcome rights super body
Lawmakers of the House of Representatives welcomed the creation of the human rights super body.President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the establishment of the Special Committee on Human Rights Coordination.House Assistant Majority Leader Raul Angelo "Jil" Bongalon said in a press conference on Monday the creation of the special committee is "a positive development".Bongalon said that "I do not see a duplication with the independent body which is the Commission on Human Rights" (CHR).The panel "will serve as a bridge, they can complement the functions of the CHR... so that we can come up with the best solutions on how we can protect and solve human rights violations in our country", he said.Under Administrative Order 22, the special committee will be composed of: the executive secretary as chairman; the secretary of the Department of Justice as co-chairman; and the secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government as members.Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman, president of the Liberal Party, also welcomed the creation of the special committee, but it "must be complemented by the immediate ratification of the Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, and the presidential certification on the urgency of the enactment of the Human Rights Defenders Protection Act."Lagman said in a statement that the country is a party to eight human rights conventions but has yet to join 71 others in ratifying the convention."Moreover, there must be full and strict implementation of the triumvirate of human rights statutes, namely the Anti-Torture Act, the Criminalization of Enforced and Involuntary Disappearance Act and the Reparation and Recognition of Human Rights Violations Victims Act", Lagman said.As to the bill protecting human rights defenders, he said that the House had approved it on third and final reading in the 17th Congress and again in the 18th Congress, but time constraints kept the Senate from acting on it."It is again pending in the House", Lagman said.The bill, he said, "defends human rights defenders from harassment, prosecution, and even death at the hands of state agents and their private cohorts. It is largely based on the Model Law for the Recognition and Protection of Human Rights Defenders developed by the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)."The bill defines a human rights defender as "any person, who individually or in association with others, acts or seeks to act to protect, promote, or strive for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms, at the local, national, regional, and international levels."Lagman suggested that the special committee include civil society representatives "who have vast experience in human rights advocacy."Sen. Francis Escudero said the special body on human rights will help "erase" human rights issues against the previous Marcos Sr. government but also against the Duterte administration.Escudero said he hopes "the intent and provisions of this issuance will be faithfully executed 'down the line.' It is crucial not only for addressing human rights issues related to the previous Marcos regime but also for addressing concerns from the previous administration and the entire country."The establishment of the panel signifies the Marcos administration's commitment to upholding human rights and ensuring accountability, said Escudero, who once headed the Senate Committee on Human Rights. "We must ensure that this initiative translates into meaningful action, benefiting all Filipinos," Escudero said.Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel 3rd said in a text message he supports the President's initiative. "[It's a] Good idea to focus on strengthening the respect for human rights," Pimentel said.Senate Majority Leader Emmanuel Joel Villanueva thanked the President "for placing the protection of human rights as a top priority of the country.""Human rights are primordial, and every Filipino citizen deserves to have them upheld and protected as enshrined in our Constitution. In fact, we have advocated for an increase in the budget of the Commission on Human Rights this year to enhance their capacity-building initiatives," Villanueva said.
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
Lawmakers of the House of Representatives welcomed the creation of the human rights super body.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the establishment of the Special Committee on Human Rights Coordination.
House Assistant Majority Leader Raul Angelo "Jil" Bongalon said in a press conference on Monday the creation of the special committee is "a positive development".
Bongalon said that "I do not see a duplication with the independent body which is the Commission on Human Rights" (CHR).
The panel "will serve as a bridge, they can complement the functions of the CHR... so that we can come up with the best solutions on how we can protect and solve human rights violations in our country", he said.
Under Administrative Order 22, the special committee will be composed of: the executive secretary as chairman; the secretary of the Department of Justice as co-chairman; and the secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government as members.
Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman, president of the Liberal Party, also welcomed the creation of the special committee, but it "must be complemented by the immediate ratification of the Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, and the presidential certification on the urgency of the enactment of the Human Rights Defenders Protection Act."
Lagman said in a statement that the country is a party to eight human rights conventions but has yet to join 71 others in ratifying the convention.
"Moreover, there must be full and strict implementation of the triumvirate of human rights statutes, namely the Anti-Torture Act, the Criminalization of Enforced and Involuntary Disappearance Act and the Reparation and Recognition of Human Rights Violations Victims Act", Lagman said.
As to the bill protecting human rights defenders, he said that the House had approved it on third and final reading in the 17th Congress and again in the 18th Congress, but time constraints kept the Senate from acting on it.
"It is again pending in the House", Lagman said.
The bill, he said, "defends human rights defenders from harassment, prosecution, and even death at the hands of state agents and their private cohorts. It is largely based on the Model Law for the Recognition and Protection of Human Rights Defenders developed by the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)."
The bill defines a human rights defender as "any person, who individually or in association with others, acts or seeks to act to protect, promote, or strive for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms, at the local, national, regional, and international levels."
Lagman suggested that the special committee include civil society representatives "who have vast experience in human rights advocacy."
Sen. Francis Escudero said the special body on human rights will help "erase" human rights issues against the previous Marcos Sr. government but also against the Duterte administration.
Escudero said he hopes "the intent and provisions of this issuance will be faithfully executed 'down the line.' It is crucial not only for addressing human rights issues related to the previous Marcos regime but also for addressing concerns from the previous administration and the entire country."
The establishment of the panel signifies the Marcos administration's commitment to upholding human rights and ensuring accountability, said Escudero, who once headed the Senate Committee on Human Rights. "We must ensure that this initiative translates into meaningful action, benefiting all Filipinos," Escudero said.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel 3rd said in a text message he supports the President's initiative. "[It's a] Good idea to focus on strengthening the respect for human rights," Pimentel said.
Senate Majority Leader Emmanuel Joel Villanueva thanked the President "for placing the protection of human rights as a top priority of the country."
"Human rights are primordial, and every Filipino citizen deserves to have them upheld and protected as enshrined in our Constitution. In fact, we have advocated for an increase in the budget of the Commission on Human Rights this year to enhance their capacity-building initiatives," Villanueva said.
