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Sunday, June 8, 2025 - 2:15 PM
This archive features official communications from the Commission on Human Rights, reflecting its stance on pressing human rights issues and national developments. It includes joint statements, press releases, brief statements, and press statements, all aimed at informing the public, asserting positions, and fostering transparency and accountability.
Statues are built to remember and respect struggles in our history. In this light, the Commission is deeply concerned that the monument intended to honour the pain and struggles of our so-called ‘comfort women’ during the World War II was taken down like a thief in the night, akin to equally robbing us of our sense of history and national identity. The relocation of the statue to a private area also insults the memory of our Filipinas who, after years of being silent, mustered the courage to step out of the dark to tell their stories, claim back their dignity, and call for reparations for the wrongs done to their […]
It is unfortunate that the recent events that led to the Bureau of Immigration order directing Australian religious missionary and human rights defender Sr. Patricia Fox to leave the country appears to be bereft of due process. We stress that the nature of human rights remains the same regardless of context. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, citizenship, colour, gender, or creed. That is why it is called ‘human rights’—the main standard is being human. The Commission believes that foreign nationals should be able to exercise their civil rights for as long as they abide by the terms of their stay, including the domestic laws, of their […]
Press Statement | 20 April 2018 Public officials are expected to uphold ethical conduct, possess good moral character, and are not supposed to be engaged in any illegal activities, such as drug use and trade. As civil servants, they are and will always be held to a higher standard. We understand that the plan of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to release the names of barangay officials who are allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade intends to inform voters that these officials are not worthy of public office. However, presumption of innocence and right to due process must not be compromised as these are Constitutional guarantees to ensure […]
Public officials are expected to uphold ethical conduct, possess good moral character, and are not supposed to be engaged in any illegal activities, such as drug use and trade. As civil servants, they are and will always be held to a higher standard. We understand that the plan of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to release the names of barangay officials who are allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade intends to inform voters that these officials are not worthy of public office. However, presumption of innocence and right to due process must not be compromised as these are Constitutional guarantees to ensure that human rights are protected at […]
Press Statement | 19 April 2018 It is the mandate of the government to protect and promote the human rights of all persons in the Philippines, including foreign nationals. This includes ensuring that everyone, like in the case of the Australian religious missionary Patricia Fox, is granted due process while we assert our national laws. In the same manner that we expect foreign countries to respect and uphold the rights of Filipinos abroad, we must accord foreign nationals in our country the same respect and courtesy as human beings who have inherent rights and freedoms. Inasmuch as we have our national identity, we are part of the bigger humanity in […]
Press Release | 6 April 2018 We welcome and support the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) ordering the Philippine National Police (PNP) to submit data on the administration’s campaign against illegal drugs. It is a step forward in ensuring that the rule of law still prevails in our country. But, equally important, is on how the decision brings us closer to knowing the truth and pursuing justice for the victims and their families.
Press Release from the Office of Commissioner Gwendolyn Ll. Pimentel-Gana | 29 March 2018 Commissioner Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) expressed disappointment over a recent statement of Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III criticizing the CHR for its focus on political crimes and the war against illegal drugs rather than on migrant workers’ rights.
PRESS RELEASE | 28 March 2018 QUEZON CITY—The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) held the first public hearing probing the alleged responsibility of major fossil-fuel companies or so-called “carbon majors” to climate change and how this impacts the human rights of Filipinos.
Press Release | 26 March 2018 QUEZON CITY—The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is set to proceed with its formal inquiry hearing starting Tuesday, 27 March 2018, as a response to a petition seeking to investigate so-called “carbon majors” for allegedly contributing to climate change and its impact on the rights of the Filipino people.
Press Statement | 24 March 2018 The primary obligation to protect the rights of every Filipino here and abroad rests with the government and its agencies. The Commission on Human Rights, thus, takes note of the actions that the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has taken in ensuring that the rights of our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families are protected.
The need for justice and the rule of law to prevail amidst allegations of impunity cannot hide under the veil of threat to withdraw from the Rome Statute.
The Commission on Human Rights expresses deep concern over recent discourses from the Philippine government that has consistently questioned the legitimacy of international human rights mechanisms in ensuring the rule of law and human rights in the country. This is despite the fact that the Philippines has been a signatory to a number of treaties on human rights which, in turn, have given authority to these bodies to monitor the situation and recommend measures in improving the human rights condition in the country. At the same time, we note the qualified expressions of openness by the government to receive experts to assess the human rights situation in the Philippines. […]
05 March 2018 | Press Release from the Office of Commissioner Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana QUEZON CITY – Commissioner Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana of the Commission of Human Rights called for a rights-based approach to the recruitment and deployment of overseas Filipino workers as she expressed concern over the prevalence of the illegal transfer of domestic workers from one employer to another particularly in the Middle East.
Press Release | 31 March 2018 The Commission on Human Rights assures the public that its goal in its work is and always has been protecting the rights of all people in the Philippines. However, we must reiterate the importance of due process and following the rule of law. This is the assurance that all people are given the chance to undergo the proper procedures and that they were not arbitrarily denied the chance to life and liberty. On 28 March 2018, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said in an article reported by Sun Star Cebu that “… what I see is that criminals are not afraid anymore because they […]
The Commission on Human Rights staunchly calls on the Philippine government to investigate the abduction and killing of South Korean national Jee Ick Joo allegedly by members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) last October.
All cases invoking self-defense (“nanlaban”) should be proven in court, especially those involving state-agents or police officers. Where police officers kill alleged criminals on the ground of self-defense, the validity of such must be established in proper court proceedings.
Press Statement | 2 March 2018 We are a nation of laws and we give primacy to the rule of law. As a signatory to various treaties, the challenge for the administration is to demonstrate its commitment and sincerity in fulfilling its treaty obligations and, in the course, show transparency in investigating human rights violations so that perpetrators are brought to justice and for the world to see that there is recourse for victims under our justice system.
Last 24 February 2018, Senator Leila M. de Lima marked her first year in detention. From trading illegal drugs under Section 5 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act (RA 9165), the Department of Justice wants to charge her now with “attempt or conspiracy” to trade illegal drugs under Section 26(b) of the same law.
QUEZON CITY—The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) engaged Lumad leaders and representatives in a dialogue on Monday, 19 February 2018, concerning the welfare and grievances of Indigenous People (IPs) in Mindanao.
PRESS STATEMENT | 20 February 2018 20 February 2018 The Lumads are among the most vulnerable sectors of society. It is expedient that any issues that further put them in the margins be addressed immediately. The Commission on Human Rights has taken cognizance of the various issues they have expressed (during a dialogue with CHR today, February 19). The Commission assures the conduct of an impartial and objective investigation on their concerns, which include allegations of militarization in their areas, food blockade in evacuation centers, forceful campaign for Lumad leaders to “surrender,” and the opening of their ancestral lands to investors among others. The Commission is regularly monitoring developments on issues […]
The Lumads are among the most vulnerable sectors of society. It is expedient that any issues that further put them in the margins be addressed immediately. The Commission on Human Rights has taken cognizance of the various issues they have expressed (during a dialogue with CHR today, February 19). The Commission assures the conduct of an impartial and objective investigation on their concerns, which include allegations of militarization in their areas, food blockade in evacuation centers, forceful campaign for Lumad leaders to “surrender,” and the opening of their ancestral lands to investors among others. The Commission is regularly monitoring developments on issues that affect the well-being of the Lumads and […]