nat'l and int'l news 10

CHR SUBPOENAED BY THE MELO COMMISSION?
“OF COURSE NOT!”—CHR CHAIRPERSON PURIFICACION V. QUISUMBING

Top officials of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) led by Chairperson Purificacion V. Quisumbing is set to grant the invitation sent by the Melo Commission to serve as resource persons during the fact-finding investigation focused on media and activists killings.

According to Chairperson Quisumbing, although the CHR is an independent constitutional body mandated to uphold human rights of every individual, it willingly accepted the Melo Commission’s invitation as an utmost display of cooperation to the fact-finding committee created by the government primarily to resolve the cases of extra-judicial killings.

The Chairperson likewise added that the CHR’s participation during the Melo Commission Public Inquiry shall not in any way compromise the CHR’s independence but will be there to compare notes and statistical data with other law enforcement agencies as to the number of killings the CHR have so far investigated and validated. The CHR is also conducting its own probe on extra-judicial killings based on the complaints brought to its attention by various non-government organizations (NGOs) and other progressive groups, and will continue to do so.

The CHR is pleased with the positive observations made by various sectors on the outcome of the Commission’s (CHR) Public Hearing/Inquiry and vowed to keep it that way. The CHR’s strong declarations on issues through its advisories had created impacts on its credibility which encouraged progressive groups to file charges of human rights violations (HRVs) against `state actors’.

The Melo Commission Public Hearing shall be held tomorrow, 03 October 2006 at 9:30 AM at the ground floor, Integrated Bar of the Philippines Building, 15 Jullia Vargas Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

CHR CHAIRPERSON PURIFICACION V. QUISUMBING: “WE ARE NOT SUBORDINATE TO ANY GOVERNMENT BRANCH”

NEWS RELEASE
04 OCTOBER 2006

Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chairperson Purificacion V. Quisumbing today attended the Fact-Finding Investigation conducted by the Melo Commission, a special Committee created by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to look into cases of political and media practitioners’ killings in the country.

However, the CHR Chairperson, one of the United Nation’s (UN) and international communities’ most respected official in the human rights aspects firmly stood her ground that if the Melo Commission wishes to see the records in relation to killings of political leaders and journalists in the country, they, (the Melo Commission officials) are very much welcome to visit the CHR and have a dialogue with the Commission en banc to thresh out the issue once and for all. The courageous CHR lady official added that it is in the context of courtesy and mutual concern on how this alarming situation can be dealt with in accordance with the due process of prosecution.

Chairperson Quisumbing reacted rather uncomfortably with the way the Melo Commission sent a subpoena ad testificandum and duces tecum addressed to CHR. Instead the Melo Commission was graciously invited by the CHR Chairperson to visit the Office and be enlightened on the way the independent constitutional body handle the complaints of human rights violations including alleged killings and disappearances filed by cause-oriented and progressive groups. Fully composed and with an air of authority written on her face, the CHR top official intimated that the Commission is not subordinate to any branch of government and as a matter of principle should never be cross-examined in any proceedings as far as human rights issues are concerned. On the other hand, she told the Melo Commission that she is willing to provide the statistics needed by the Melo Commission and vowed to even provide them herself, the moment the Melo Commission or its representative requests said data at the CHR Office at any given time.