MANILA, Philippines – “Did you do anything to help stop the drug problem before? There are many human rights abuses due to illegal drugs. We all know that. But why does it seem like the CHR has survived these past few years? Where have you been? ”

These are the questions asked by Senator Christopher “Bong” Go to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) after he convenes the Senate plenary interpellations for next year’s budget proposal.

The senator first noted that the CHR seems to be more important to the life of drug criminals than to the lives of innocent victims.

Go insisted that the CHR should be fair and not “selective” in conducting investigations into alleged human rights violations on war on drugs.

As such, the CHR assured Go that they would not be biased and would be neutral in their investigations by saying the commission was an “independent, nonpartisan oversight institution”.

As vice chair of the Senate committee on finance, Go also questioned how the CHR is using its budget.

According to the senator, the duty of the CHR is to investigate or pursue all types of human rights violations, including civil and political rights, even if they are committed by public officers, civilians or rebels.

Go pointed out that the government’s intense campaign against illegal drugs had a positive effect, especially on the families of OFWs. (Chris Figueroa)