Despite several criticisms from the government’s supporters, Commission on Human Rights Chief Chito Gacson on Wednesday said in a speech at a forum organized by the Constitutional Fiscal Autonomy Group that the commission is not in the field of politics and destabilizing the government is not part of their business.
“Hindi po tayo nasa larangan ng pamumulitika. ‘Di po tayo nasa larangan ng destabilization. Tayo po ay nasa larangan ng rule of law. Tayo po ay nasa larangan ng justice [We’re not in the field of politics. We are not in the field of destabilization. We are into the rule of law. We are into justice],” Gascon said.
Gacson reiterated that their plea is to follow what is only allowed by the rule of law and the constitution.
“Ang panawagan natin sa lahat ay gawin lamang ang sangayon sa batas, gawin lamang ang sangayon sa ating konstitusyon [Our plea to everyone is to solely do what is allowed by the law and the constitution],” he said.
“Ipakita sa ating partners sa gobyerno na handa tayo makipag-cooperate para siguraduhin na ang Saligang Batas ay matupad ng buo at lubos (Let’s show the government that we are ready to cooperate to ensure that the Constitution will be followed fully),” Gascon added.
The human rights chief had earlier received tirades from President Rodrigo Duterte saying that the commission is playing innocent concerning several persecutions that is not under the government’s campaign on illegal drugs.
Duterte earlier cited the numbers of Moro and Christians that were killed and taken by Maute group as hostages during the battle in Marawi, and slammed Gascon by saying, “Human rights (commission) why are (you) silent?”