CHR says it's against abortion except for extreme medical reasons

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Wednesday declared it is against abortion, except for extreme circumstances such as termination of pregnancy due to medical reasons.

The commission made the position in a letter sent to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri a day after senators terminated the plenary deliberations on its proposed 2024 budget due to the previous statement made by its Executive Director Jacqueline De Guia backing the decriminalization of abortion.

“The Commission on Human Rights considers the right to life. The Commission similarly adheres to the 1987 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,” the CHR letter read.

“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 letter was signed by CHR chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc, Commissioners Beda Epres and Monina Zenarosa.

In response, Zubiri said the CHR might be tackled in plenary on Monday, November 20.

Earlier in the day, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, sponsor of the CHR’s budget, said it is possible to give the commission a zero budget for next year if they do not give the Senate a strong stand on abortion.

On Tuesday, several senators aired their opposition to decriminalize abortion.

It was Senator Alan Peter Cayetano who raised the previous statements of De Guia, including the September 8, 2022 statement which read that: “CHR is also pushing for the passage of new pieces of legislation forwarding gender empowerment and women’s rights, such as the decriminalization of abortion…”—LDF, GMA Integrated News