CHR chair rejects Marcos’ vice presidential bid

TACLOBAN CITY, March 4 (PNA) – As a government official, Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chairperson Chito Gason tries to stay away from political talks, but not until local journalists here asked him if he would vote for Sen. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. as vice president.

“Personally, I will not vote for Bongbong Marcos, but I will not campaign for or against any candidate,” said Gascon, a student activist who evaded several attempts to arrest him during the Martial Law years.

“The CHR will not get involve in campaigning, but we will speak about human rights issues, justice, and accountability,” the CHR head told reporters during his visit to this city on Thursday.

Gascon joined others in calling the young Marcos not to distort the truth about Martial Law atrocities as he said that “all can participate in the elections, but I wish nobody would change history.”

The young Marcos repeatedly rejected the idea of issuing an apology to victims of human rights abuses during Martial Law as he said that the country benefitted from the projects their family initiated in their 20 years in power.

“What is there to fear about us? We are all good-willed people. We are not doing anything to hurt others, no such circumstances,” Marcos said after the 30th anniversary of the Edsa People Power Revolution.

“I wish Bongbong will speak about the truth and consider the sufferings of thousands of people who were abused during Martial Law. Our focus here are issues on human rights,” Gascon said.

Gascon fought the Marcos dictatorship as a student leader. In the wake of the assassination of Senator Ninoy Aquino on August 21, 1983, he helped mobilize protest actions in schools demanding justice for all and radical political change.

He was elected chair of the University of the Philippines Student Council in 1985 and led the youth movement that actively participated in the People Power Revolution in February 1986.

President Benigno S. Aquino III appointed Gascon on June 18, 2015 as the new CHR chair for the 2015-2022 term. (PNA)
RMA/SARWELL Q. MENIANO