Open and free discourse is a crucial facet of a democracy. It is a right guaranteed by the Constitution and guided by different laws. In this case, criticisms, especially if warranted and is viewed for public interest, should not be used as a justification to curtail other rights, lest we spiral into a dictatorship. The task before all freedom-loving Filipinos is vigilance against possible oppressions and abuse of power.
Just as the same, we remind the government to use the authority the people granted to them and use it to protect rights and liberties rather than curtail them.
CHRP Statement at the 59th Session of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
The CHRP reiterated its recommendations (for the list of issues) and updated the Committee on human rights situation in the Philippines since after the February 2016 submission of the NHRI comments. Concluding Observations were adopted by the Committee on 7