President Duterte Can’t Abolish CHR, But…

Malacañang said Thursday, July 27, that President Rodrigo Duterte cannot simply abolish the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) as it is a constitutional commission.

On Monday, President Duterte threatened to abolish the CHR for seemingly always going after the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for alleged human rights abuses.

Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella, during Thursday morning’s Palace press briefing, said President Duterte was just expressing his frustrations with the CHR.

“It’s basically the President simply expressing his frustration regarding the apparent biases of the Commission,” Abella said.

“He’s actually expressing his frustrations regarding the CHR. However, it is a constitutional commission and it cannot be abolished by mere legislation,” he added.

Abella, however, said that President Duterte can change the people in any constitutional commission when he feels like it.

Source: Manila Bulletin