The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has expressed its "heartfelt" gratitude to legislators “for tirelessly advocating and supporting” the CHR Charter Bill which seeks to strengthen, institutionalize, and broaden its mandate and capacity as the country's national human rights institution (NHRI).

House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez introduced House Bill (HB) No. 9790 on the Strengthening the CHR as an NHRI and for other purposes together with Reps. Bienvenido M. Abante, Manuel Jose M. Dalipe, Ferdinand Alexander A. Marcos Jr., Yedda Marie K. Romualdez, and Jude A. Acidre.

Reps. Gus S. Tambunting and Rufus B. Rodriguez have also given their support to the CHR through HB 5060 and HB 8932, respectively.

Sen. Robin Padilla authored Senate Bill (SB) No. 2440 on Defining the Powers and Functions of CHR as NHRI and for other purposes, while Sen. Lito Lapid filed SB 2487 for the same purposed.

The CHR said passage of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) was also supported by Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” F. Zubiri and Sen. Francis “Tol” N. Tolentino.

"These bills seek to broaden the CHR mandate by explicitly including investigations into violations of not only civil and political rights, but also economic, social, and cultural rights," the CHR said in a statement.

Not only do the bills demonstrate the government's efforts to champion and advocate for human rights causes, but the CHR said they also serve as a "foundation" for a nation that values people's inherent rights, it said.

CHR Chairperson Richard P. Palpal-latoc emphasized the importance of the CHR Charter, explaining that the bills help the commission fulfill its mandate of serving everyone -- because everyone has an inherent right.

"This essential legislation is more than just the Commission's framework – it represents a collective commitment to protecting and upholding the rights and dignity of every individual in the country," he said.

“With the passage of the CHR Charter, we can strengthen our mandate to provide vital legal aid services, establish mechanisms for strategic litigation to ensure access to justice for victims of human rights violations, and advocate for the crucial bills required to protect human rights defenders and uphold the principles enshrined in our Constitution,” he added.

For Commissioner Faydah Maniri Dumarpa, the support given to the CHR proves the government's dedication in advancing human rights.

"Their commitment to this cause demonstrates a common goal of creating a more humane and just society, particularly for the vulnerable and marginalized. I hope that this is just one of many actions we will take as partners to support and protect human rights causes in the country," she said.

Despite the many limitations and challenges faced by the CHR in previous years, the commission said it is hopeful that it would be able to maintain its Status 'A' accreditation as an NHRI.

The CHR is also hopeful that the said bills will pass swiftly, therefore establishing a stronger vision for a just and equitable nation that champions the rights of all -- particularly those who are marginalized, vulnerable, and disadvantaged, it added.