ILOILO City – Tomorrow the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in Western Visayas is bringing its free legal aid caravan to Tubangan, Iloilo.
This is one of its ways to mark the National Human Rights Consciousness Week (Dec. 4 to 10), according to Atty. Jonnie Dabuco, CHR regional director.
Tubungan as venue of the caravan is an inspired choice. Dabuco said CHR Region 6 aims to reach out to people in far-flung areas.
Tubungan is 41 kilometers from Iloilo City. Dabuco said the caravan would also be serving people from neighboring towns and even if their legal concerns are not related to human rights.
CHR will also be holding a forum on the Rice Tariffication Law in coordination with the Jaro Archdiocesan Social Action Center (JASAC) on Dec. 9. The venue would be announced soon.
Backed by JASAC, CHR will set up, too, human rights desks in parishes.
“We want people to feel our presence,” said Dabuco.
JASAC personnel will man the desks after a training on Dec. 14.
Human rights desk personnel may serve as first responders in human rights-related incidents, said Dabuco.
The director thanked JASAC for partnering with CHR which has limited personnel.
Dabuco said concerns over extrajudicial killings prompted CHR to think of setting up human rights desks is localities./PN
