ARTICLE XIII
HUMAN RIGHTS
Section 17. (1) There is hereby
created an independent office called the Commission on Human Rights.
(2) The Commission shall
be composed of a Chairman and four Members who must be natural-born
citizens
of the Philippines and a majority of whom shall be members of the Bar.
The term of office and other qualifications and disabilities of the
Members
of the Commission shall be provided by law.cralaw:red
(3) Until this Commission
is constituted, the existing Presidential Committee on Human Rights
shall
continue to exercise its present functions and powers.cralaw:red
(4) The approved annual appropriations
of the Commission shall be automatically and regularly released.cralaw:red
Section 18. The Commission
on Human Rights shall have the following powers and functions:chanrobles virtual law library
(1) Investigate, on its own
or on complaint by any party, all forms of human rights violations
involving
civil and political rights;
(2) Adopt its operational
guidelines and rules of procedure, and cite for contempt for violations
thereof in accordance with the Rules of Court;
(3) Provide appropriate legal
measures for the protection of human rights of all persons within the
Philippines,
as well as Filipinos residing abroad, and provide for preventive
measures
and legal aid services to the under-privileged whose human rights have
been violated or need protection;
(4) Exercise visitorial powers
over jails, prisons, or detention facilities;
(5) Establish a continuing
program of research, education, and information to enhance respect for
the primacy of human rights;
(6) Recommend to Congress
effective measures to promote human rights and to provide for
compensation
to victims of violations of human rights, or their families;
(7) Monitor the Philippine
Government's compliance with international treaty obligations on human
rights;
(8) Grant immunity from prosecution
to any person whose testimony or whose possession of documents or other
evidence is necessary or convenient to determine the truth in any
investigation
conducted by it or under its authority;
(9) Request the assistance
of any department, bureau, office, or agency in the performance of its
functions;
(10) Appoint its officers
and employees in accordance with law; and cralaw:red
(11) Perform such other duties
and functions as may be provided by law.cralaw:red
Section 19. The Congress
may provide for other cases of violations of human rights that should
fall
within the authority of the Commission, taking into account its
recommendations.
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