CHR pushes for 'clean, fair, and honest' elections on May 12
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) pushed for "clean, fair, and honest" elections on Monday, May 12, as it forged partnerships with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to advance human rights.
CHR Chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc said: “Let us make the May 12 Elections not just a political exercise, but a strong affirmation of a commitment to democracy through human rights.”
“Hand-in-hand, we can proudly showcase an electoral process that is clean, fair, and honest, proving to one and all that a functioning democracy, though imperfect, thrives in our nation,” Palpal-latoc also said.
In a statement, the CHR said its memorandum of understanding (MOU) forged with the Comelec “champions the role of human rights in elections and the broader democratic process.”
It said the agreement is the reimplementation of the CHR’s national campaign, Bantay Karapatan sa Halalan (BKH), with the support of civil society and human rights groups.
It explained that the BHK is dedicated to monitoring, observing, and reporting on human rights concerns throughout the entire election process.
“The program seeks to uplift and broaden the voting participation of the public, particularly for persons with disabilities (PWDs), older persons, indigenous peoples, and persons deprived of liberty (PDLs),” it also said.
With the AFP, the CHR said it renewed its MOU and Data-Sharing Agreement with the AFP Center for Law of Armed Conflict (AFPCLOAC).
The renewed agreement highlights the creation of a Technical Working Group (TWG) composed of representatives from the CHR, AFPCLOAC, and the Office of the Deputy of Chief of Staff for Education, Training, and Doctrine to develop joint education, training, and advocacy programs aimed at enhancing the AFP’s training modules and instructional materials on human rights and international humanitarian law, the CHR said.
It also said the agreement also allows the CHR to fulfill its constitutional mandate to conduct visits to detention facilities located within military camps.
At the same time, the Data-Sharing Agreement between the CHR and AFP further strengthens transparency by institutionalizing the exchange of information on human rights violations involving AFP personnel, it added.
And with the new initiative, the CHR said under the Management Information System Monitoring Outlet (MISMO), the processing of CHR clearances will be expedited as the CHR transitions to fully digital transactions.
"This partnership is not merely about the exchange of information -- it is about good governance, the rule of law, and the protection of human dignity," Palpal-latoc said.
He also said that “by institutionalizing a legal framework for cooperation, we reinforce our role in fostering a strong and functioning democracy in our society,”