tamang pang-unawa tungkol sa karapatang pantao” and Ma’m Nemia De
Chavez (MSWDO) who quoted, “Tumutulong sa taong kulang pa ang
kaalaman sa CHR”. With these answers, Atty. Baltazar added that among
their functions also include investigating, on its own or on complaint by
any party, all forms of human rights violations involving civil and political
rights, adopting its operational guidelines and rules of procedure, and cite
for contempt for violations thereof in accordance with the Rules of Court,
exercising visitorial powers over jails, prisons, or detention facilities,
establishing a continuing program of research, education, and information
to enhance respect for the primacy of human rights, monitor the Philippine
Government's compliance with international treaty obligations on human
rights, and requesting the assistance of any department, bureau, office, or
agency in the performance of its functions. She added that in visiting on
jails, they were accompanied by their investigators who played vital roles
in the process. The Commission also give free legal assistance and assist in
drafting of affidavit according to her.
While on working break, the discussion focused on the different
government service providers who will be of great help depending on the
case and on the area of jurisdiction. According to Municipal Social Welfare
and Development Office, most of their clients were indigent, persons with
disabilities, children and pregnant women. Further, the speaker give
emphasis on the basic concept about CHR wherein she narrated that
human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, whatever the
nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour,
religion, language, or any other status. We are all equally entitled to our
human rights without discrimination, she said. These rights are all
interrelated, interdependent and indivisible.
Commission on Human Rights as Gender Ombud was also discussed by
the speaker. She noted that they pursue the promotion of gender equality