May we inquire why Section 4 of the draft EO provides that the Chairman of the proposed Philippine

Human Rights Council (Council) is the Secretary of Foreign Affairs?

Under Section 2, CHapter 1, Title III, Book IV of EO 292, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is the principal
legal counsel and prosecution arm of the government. It must be emphasized that Section 2 of the draft
EO gives the aforementioned council the power to prosecute all humn rights violations committed either
by state or non-state forces against all Filipino citizens and residents.

If it is the proponent of this draft EO intends to have the Secretary of Foreign Affairs as the Chairman of
the proposed Council, may we recommend that a Sub-Committee be created, headed by the Secretary
of Justice, and in-charge of matters concerning the investigation and prosecution of human rights
violation as the same is within the competence and jurisdiction of the DOJ.

Especially that Section 7 of the draft EO provides that there shall be an inventory of all cases pertaining
to state or non-state human rights violations which would include unresolves cases as well as those
under investigation and prosecution stages.