CHR officially stands against abortion after budget deferral

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 15) — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) took a formal stance on abortion after the Senate halted deliberation on its proposed 2024 budget.

In a letter addressed to Senate President Juan Miguel «Migz» Zubiri, the CHR said it «considers paramount the right to life.»

«The Commission similarly adheres to the 1987 Philippine Constitution specifically, to 'equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception,' and is therefore, against abortion, save for extreme circumstances,» read the letter signed by CHR Chairperson Richard Palpal-Latoc and three other commissioners.

«As the national human rights institution of the country, we shall continue to support the international human rights framework, its mechanisms and recommendations, including the rights of women,» it added.

The CHR's proposed ₱934 million budget was put on hold Tuesday as four male senators took issue with the commission's previous position supporting the decriminalization of abortion.

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, who sponsored the CHR's budget, made a motion to defer the plenary debate pending a «strong stand against abortion.»

It came after Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano protested a 2022 statement that the commission is pushing for the passage of a law decriminalizing abortion.

The CHR then clarified that it has no position on abortion as it is still studying the matter, while it stressed at the same time that it values the right to life as enshrined in the 1987 Constitution.

Zubiri approved Estrada's motion, saying he would also «not be able» to approve CHR's budget.

The Senate president said the plenary deliberation on CHR's proposed 2024 budget may resume on Monday.