It is no longer a P1000 budget for the 3 agencies, as the House of Representatives restored the funds of Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).
This was after CHR chair Jose Luis Gascon, ERC Commissioner Geronimo Sta. Ana, and NCIP Chair Leonor Oralde-Quintayo appealed before Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, with the help of appropriations committee chairperson Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles and Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas.
According to Nograles, the dialogue was “very frank but cordial” and in the end, Alvarez was magnanimous in his decision and gave the green light to restoring their budget.
Moreover, Gascon agreed that his office should also conduct investigations on human rights violations committed by other syndicates victimizing the police, civilians, and the military and not only those allegedly committed by government agents.
Nograles said Alvarez told Gascon that the Duterte administration is not the enemy, and expressed their oneness with the CHR’s goal to bring down “all forms of human rights violation”.
The ERC and NCIP also agreed to accomplish its mandates and to take down corrupt officials in their offices.
(DAILY NEWS ROUND UP FOR 09/ 22 / 17)