QUESTION

Choose one of the following problems of the country’s constitution. Tell and
explain your solution for your chosen problem.

C. The commission on Human Rights cannot persecute felon.

As a National Human Rights Institution, the Commission serves as a forum
where complaints of alleged acts of torture are investigated and endorsed for action by
the courts and administrative bodies.
The Commission on Human Rights assures the public that its goal in its work is
and always has been protecting the rights of all people in the Philippines. However, we
must reiterate the importance of due process and following the rule of law. This is the
assurance that all people are given the chance to undergo the proper procedures and
that they were not arbitrarily denied the chance to life and liberty.
On 28 March 2018, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said in an article reported
by Sun Star Cebu that “… what I see is that criminals are not afraid anymore because
they have human rights and the victims have no human rights. So what happened?
There will be more victims. They’re (the CHR) a big part of this.”

Holding the accused innocent until proven guilty in the court of law is one of the
most crucial principles of the Philippine justice system, and the Commission
continuously reminds the government and the public that this principle is something we
must all uphold.

Ensuring that this right is protected is not endorsing criminality nor is it defending
criminals, and any rise in crime in any place in the Philippines cannot be attributed to
human rights defenders who strive only for the justice system to work as intended.

The Commission works closely with victims of both human rights violations and
crime. Our mandate extends to ensuring these victims are given the proper support and
assistance they require to return to their lives; our extensive work with victims of various
human rights abuses is a testament to our dedication to ensuring the right of victims are
well-protected and cared for.

All humans have the right to due process in court of law. Regardless of their
circumstances, summary executions are not justice, and any assertion that their deaths
are deserved is a sign of a failing justice system. This right is the very first one listed in
the 1987 Philippine Constitution’s Bill of Rights, as such: “No person shall be deprived
of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the
equal protection of the laws.”