The Commission on Human Rights is facing its “toughest challenge” ever —“crisis of democracy,” detained Senator Leila de Lima said Friday.
De Lima, a former CHR chief, said the country is in a crisis “where citizens are silenced amid the prevalence of flagrant violations of our fundamental rights.”
“[It is] where lies and rumors are fabricated to poison our minds by some forces in our State for the sake of their political and personal agendas.”
De Lima, a staunch critic of President Rodrigo Duterte, is currently detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame over her alleged involvement in the proliferation of illegal drugs inside the national penitentiary during her term as Justice secretary.
She was the chairperson of the CHR during the administration of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
During her stint at the commission, she led the investigation on the killings allegedly perpetrated by the so-called Davao Death Squad, supposedly upon orders of Duterte, then Davao City's mayor.
“It is in this institution (CHR) where I learned the value of human life and human dignity, regardless of one’s status,” De Lima said.
“Now more than ever, the commission needs to have a united stand in fighting this crisis, to continue fighting for the welfare and rights of our people, especially the marginalized who are often the victims of injustice in our society,” she added.
The CHR, under chairperson Chito Gascon, is celebrating its 30th founding anniversary Friday.
United Nations special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings Agnes Callamard was one of the guest speakers at the CHR's pre-anniversary event on Thursday evening.
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