MANILA -- Former Akbayan representative Etta Rosales said she would immediately tackle the pressing rights issues like extra-judicial killings following her appointment as the new Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chairperson.
In a text message to reporters, Rosales thanked President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III for “publicly announcing” her appointment as successor to Leila de Lima, who is now Justice Secretary.
“As its new chair, I will make sure that the commission under my stewardship will not be beholden to any politician or any group, but only to the universal principles of human rights. I will be impartial only to the respect and recognition of human dignity,” said Rosales.
“I will prioritize major human rights issues—extrajudicial killings, involuntary disappearances and police brutality,” she added.
Rosales, who once head the Committee on Human Rights in the 13th Congress, said she will take a leave from Akbayan once she receives the appointment papers. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)