
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has welcomed lawyer Beda A. Epres as its new commissioner who will serve for seven years under the 6th Commission En Banc (CEB).
Epres was plucked out of the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. who appointed him last Sept. 15. His appointment papers were received by the CHR last Sept. 21.
Epres is the first out of the five anticipated appointments for new members of CHR’s CEB (full commission).
The 51-year-old Epres is an alumnus of Far Eastern University (FEU Political Science, 1990) and Arellano University School of Law (LL.B., 1995). He passed the Bar examinations in 1995.
Epres started his career as an officer at the National Power Corporation and a part-time lecturer at FEU. He then joined the OMB in 1997, where he worked as Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer I at the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices (MOLEO).
In 2008, he headed the Monitoring Team of the OMB Field Investigation Office (FIO), then became head and team leader of the FIO's Intelligence Bureau the following year. He assumed the position of acting director of the OMB Intelligence Bureau-FIO II in 2010 and was finally appointed as director of the same office in 2011.
Epres eventually moved to the Office of the Special Prosecutor and remained in the said office until 2016. The last position he held was Director IV of the General Investigation Bureau-A of FIO I at OMB before being appointed as CHR commissioner.
After sitting down with CHR Executive Director and fellow lawyer Jacqueline Ann de Guia in a preliminary meeting, Epres expressed his commitment to advance the rights of older persons and children.
For its part, the CHR cited his strong foundation and experience in investigative work.
"With the track record of Commissioner Epres, CHR welcomes his expertise and credibility in conducting independent probe which is crucial to human rights protection," the CHR said in a statement.
"CHR is optimistic that Commissioner Epres will continue to contribute in making the Commission a steadfast and formidable institution that caters to all people, especially the weak, vulnerable, and marginalized, and in responding to the present and emerging human rights challenges of our time," it added.