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| ==History== | ==History== | ||
| The Commission originated from the Presidential Committee on Human Rights established in 1986 by ] ], which was chaired by former ] ] and former ] ] ]. A separate Commission on Human Rights was established upon the promulgation of the 1987 Constitution. | The Commission originated from the Presidential Committee on Human Rights established in 1986 by ] ], which was chaired by former ] ] and former ] ] ]. A separate Commission on Human Rights was established upon the promulgation of the 1987 Constitution. It is now headed by outgoing Dr. Purificacion Valera Quisumbing, wife of ]. They have two children: Josefa and Cecilia.<ref></ref> Chair Purificacion Quisumbing caused the issuance of Administrative Order 163, which expanded the membership of the Presidential Human Rights Committee (PHRC). She and outgoing officials of the CHR were accused of ], due to alleged lobbying for the appointment of her daughter, Cecilia ‘Coco’ Quisumbing, as the PHRC executive director, inter alia.<ref></ref> | ||
| ==Functions== | ==Functions== | ||
Revision as of 06:04, 6 May 2008
The Commission on Human Rights is an independent office created by the Constitution of the Philippines, with the primary function of investigating all forms of human rights violations involving civil and political rights in the Philippines.
The Commission is composed of a Chairperson and four members. The Constitution requires that a majority of the Commission’s members must be lawyers.
History
The Commission originated from the Presidential Committee on Human Rights established in 1986 by President Corazon Aquino, which was chaired by former Senator Jose Diokno and former Supreme Court Associate Justice J.B.L. Reyes. A separate Commission on Human Rights was established upon the promulgation of the 1987 Constitution. It is now headed by outgoing Dr. Purificacion Valera Quisumbing, wife of Leonardo Quisumbing. They have two children: Josefa and Cecilia. Chair Purificacion Quisumbing caused the issuance of Administrative Order 163, which expanded the membership of the Presidential Human Rights Committee (PHRC). She and outgoing officials of the CHR were accused of nepotism, due to alleged lobbying for the appointment of her daughter, Cecilia ‘Coco’ Quisumbing, as the PHRC executive director, inter alia.
Functions
Under Section 18, Article XIII of the Philippine Constitution, the Commission is empowered to investigate all forms of human rights violations involving civil and political rights, adopt rules of procedure and issue contempt citations, provide appropriate legal measures for the protection of human rights of all persons within the Philippines, and several other powers in relation to the protection of human rights.
The Supreme Court of the Philippines, in Cariño v. Commission on Human Rights, 204 SCRA 483 (1991), declared that the Commission did not possess the power of adjudication, and emphasized that its functions were primarily investigatory.
External link
- "Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines - Official Website". Retrieved 2008-03-23.
References
- Section 18, Article XIII, Constitution of the Philippines
- Supreme Court, Leonardo A. Quisumbing
- Abs-Cbn Interactive, Outgoing CHR officials accused of nepotism
- Cariño v. Commission on Human Rights, G.R. No. 96681, 2 December 1991, 204 SCRA 483, 492