Human rights cases in PH shift focus from political to social – CHR

By Wilnard Bacelonia, Philippine News Agency

During the Senate Committee on Finance hearing on the CHR’s proposed 2026 budget, CHR Chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc said that while the number of complaints remained relatively constant since 2023, there has been a change in the types of violations reported. Cases involving civil and political rights, such as extrajudicial killings and arbitrary arrests, have declined, while those concerning economic, social, and cultural rights have increased — including complaints related to gender-based violence, education, food, health, and the welfare of women, children, and the elderly. (Photo: PNA/Facebook)

MANILA – The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Wednesday said the nature of human rights complaints in the country has shifted from civil and political violations to social and economic concerns, reflecting an evolving understanding of human rights among Filipinos.

During the Senate Committee on Finance hearing on the CHR’s proposed 2026 budget, CHR Chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc said that while the number of complaints remained relatively constant since 2023, there has been a change in the types of violations reported.

“Almost constant ‘yung number, may mga changes depending on the situation, but nagbabago po ‘yung nature of complaints (The number of cases has remained almost constant, but the nature of complaints is evolving),” Palpal-latoc said.

Cases involving civil and political rights, such as extrajudicial killings and arbitrary arrests, have declined, while those concerning economic, social, and cultural rights have increased — including complaints related to gender-based violence, education, food, health, and the welfare of women, children, and the elderly.

“Kasi before, ang focus talaga during the previous years, a long time ago, ang focus is civil and political rights. But this time, because of the changes of the times and the expansion of the human rights concept, nagkakaroon ng evolution (Before, the focus was civil and political rights, but over time, the concept of human rights has evolved),” he said.

CHR Commissioner Ma. Amifaith Fider-Reyes said this development aligns with the country’s pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as zero hunger, health for all, and quality education.

“Nage-evolve po kasi bago lang naman po ito noong 1987 bilang pagtugon sa martial law, ngunit alam natin na merong mga karapatang pantao na inherent na po sa ating pagkatao (The human rights framework was formalized in 1987 as a response to martial law, but inherent human rights continue to surface in response to modern needs),” Fider-Reyes said.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who presided over the hearing, said the discussion helped clarify how the CHR’s mandate has broadened to address both traditional and emerging rights concerns.

“Typically for a layman, kapag sinabi mong human rights, it’s civil and political. Nung sinabi ng chairperson natin na it’s evolving, natuto ako na nag-iiba rin pala ang demands ng constituents natin (Typically, when we say human rights, we think of civil and political rights. I learned today that our constituents’ demands are evolving too),” Gatchalian said.

In the same hearing, Gatchalian commended the CHR for its efficient case management, noting that the number of pending complaints has dropped from 28,000 to 3,438 in just a year and a half.

“I’m commending the commission for this really very efficient disposition of cases,” he said.