By LLANESCA T. PANTI, GMA News

Published January 3, 2022 6:29pm

Citing the lack of a specific appropriation amount, President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday rejected a provision in the P5.024 trillion national budget law that would establish a Human Rights Institute.

Duterte, in his veto message on Republic Act 11639 or the General Appropriations Act of 2022 released by the Department of Budget and Management on Monday, was referring to the HRI which would be under the jurisdiction of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

"I [had to] veto CHR Special Provision No. 1, 'Establishment of a Human Rights Institute,' Volume 1-B, page 660 since no specific appropriation is provided for the purpose," the President explained.

"The creation of an Institute, just like other offices, should be subject to a comprehensive review of the mandate, mission, objectives and functions, systems and procedures, and programs, activities and projects, as well as the corresponding structural, functional, and operational adjustments in an organization, including the necessary staffing and funding requirements," he added.

The CHR launched the HRI last December 10 to mark International Human Rights Day.

During the launch, CHR Commissioner Karen Gomez-Dumpit said the HRI would work on providing formal and non-formal education on human rights given that human rights were "relevant in solving and addressing modern-day problems and challenges such as impunity, climate change, inequality, and of course, persisting human rights violation." -- DVM, GMA News