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The Commission on Human Rights plans to put up its
own independent forensic center to improve its investigative
expertise.
Commission Chair Leila de Lima,
who took her oath of office before President Gloria Arroyo on
Thursday, said at present that the agency she heads is “very
dependent” on the Philippine National Police, the National Bureau
of Investigation and private experts for forensic matters.
At the same time, de Lima said
she will set up a program to improve the forensic technical skills
of the commission’s personnel to remedy the “lack of witnesses
which is always the problem in human rights cases.”
She added that the commission
will also focus on monitoring the government’s compliance with its
obligations in “at least eight core” international human rights
treaties.
The commission will also
revitalize the barangay human rights action centers to promote human
rights awareness at the grassroots level, especially about the human
rights provisions of various laws.
--Angelo S. Samonte
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