Commission on Human Rights (Philippines)

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The Commission on Human Rights is an independent office created by the Constitution of the Philippines, with the primary function of investigating all forms of human rights violations involving civil and political rights in the Philippines.[1]

The Commission is composed of a Chairperson and four members. The Constitution requires that a majority of the Commission’s members must be lawyers.

Chairperson Dr. Purificacion Valera Quisumbing finished her 7-year term on May 5, and was replaced by election lawyer Leila de Lima on May 15, 2008. De Lima stated that her mandate is to monitor the compliance by the Philippine government of its entire obligation under international treaties and instruments on human rights, and specifically, to solve cases of extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances.[2]

Contents

[edit] History

The Commission originated from the Presidential Committee on Human Rights established in 1986 by President Corazon Aquino, which was chaired by former Senator Jose Diokno and former Supreme Court Associate Justice J.B.L. Reyes. A separate Commission on Human Rights was established upon the promulgation of the 1987 Constitution.

[edit] Functions

Under Section 18, Article XIII of the Philippine Constitution, the Commission is empowered to investigate all forms of human rights violations involving civil and political rights, adopt rules of procedure and issue contempt citations, provide appropriate legal measures for the protection of human rights of all persons within the Philippines, and several other powers in relation to the protection of human rights.

The Supreme Court of the Philippines, in Cariño v. Commission on Human Rights, 204 SCRA 483 (1991), declared that the Commission did not possess the power of adjudication, and emphasized that its functions were primarily investigatory.[3]

[edit] External link

[edit] References

  1. ^ Section 18, Article XIII, Constitution of the Philippines
  2. ^ manilastandardtoday.com, De Lima assumes post as chief of human rights panel
  3. ^ Cariño v. Commission on Human Rights, G.R. No. 96681, 2 December 1991, 204 SCRA 483, 492