20 but rather encompasses a broad array of rights that include the rights invoked in the Petition. 2.40. With this discussion, there is no point in belaboring on respondent Shell’s citation of cases, declaring: “administrative issuances must not override, but must remain consistent with the law they seek to apply and implement.”70 2.41. At any rate, in refusing to have its hands tied and bearing in mind the universality, indivisibility, interrelatedness, and interdependence of human rights, as discussed, the Honorable Commission71 issued CHR Resolution No. A95-096,72 which positively avowed for, as one of its operational priorities, “investigative monitoring of incidents and/or conditions obtaining in the country which are violative of concerns in both areas of civil and political rights and economic, social, and cultural rights.”73 2.42. CHR Resolution No. A95-096 invoked the international principles that “human rights is concerned with issues in both areas of civil and political rights, and economic, social, and cultural rights founded on internationally accepted human rights obligations to which the Philippine Government is a state party.”74 2.43. Significantly, CHR Resolution No. A95-096 paved the way for the so-called “investigative monitoring” function which the Honorable Commission applies when it deals with human rights complaints involving economic, social, and cultural rights (“ESCR”).75 A careful perusal of the records of the Honorable Commission “since 2000 to present, especially those coming from the regional offices, show various investigations and legal interventions conducted to promote and protect ESCR. The records reveal an assortment of ESCR violations, such as the right to education, right to health, right to ecology, right to housing, right to just and favorable conditions of work, right to social security, domestic violence against women and children, among others.”76 2.44. One case in point is when the Honorable Commission, through the Assistance and Visitorial Office and the CHR Region III Office, conducted an “investigative monitoring” on the complaints filed regarding toxic wastes within the Clark Air Base area, when the United States Bases 70 No. I (E), pp. 29-33 of respondent Shell’s Motion to Dismiss Ex Abundanti Ad Cautelam. Through its then Chairperson (Sedfrey Ordoñez) 72 December 1995 73 CHR Mandate over Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), p. 6, available at http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CESCR/Shared%20Documents/PHL/INT_CESCR_NGO_PHL_41_991 2_E.doc, last accessed on 01 January 2017. 74 CHR Mandate over Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), Id., p. 6. 75 CHR Mandate over Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), Id., p. 7. 76 supra., note 75. 71

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