GIVING us a zero budget is the same as abolishing us.
This was what the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) 7 said in response to House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, who accused the agency of protecting only the rights of the criminals.
“It’s difficult now because if you look at the situation, CHR was actually created in order to operate the principle of check and balance in a democratic system. If you will give CHR a zero budget, ultimately, that is to close the only national human rights institution of the Philippines,” said CHR 7 Director Atty. Arvin Odron during the 888 News Forum yesterday.
The CHR is investigating 450 cases of police abuses nationwide, 61 of which are in Central Visayas.
Meanwhile, Leo Villarino, CHR 7 chief investigator, said they already ended their investigation on the alleged abuses of the Cebu City Jail officers against an inmate who escaped.
Villarino said that inmate Marvin Gimpeso admitted to them that his wounds were caused by his escape from the facility and were not inflicted by personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology. (JOB)