Allegations of reprisals against the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (PHL 12/2017) were included in the 2018 report of the Secretary-General (A/HRC/39/41, paras. 61–62 and Annex I, paras. 84–85). As of May 2019, it was reported that members of the Commission continue to be under surveillance by State agents and threats have been made against their lives and security, amid calls for their resignation. Chairperson Mr. Chito Gascon has been particularly targeted as head of the Commission, with a State agent reportedly assigned to follow his movements. Mr. Gascon was also reportedly under surveillance during a side event at the Human Rights Council in March 2019.

On 21 June 2019, the Government responded to the allegations. Regarding the situation of the Commission on Human Rights, the Government stated that contrary to the allegations of reprisals, it has further cultivated enabling conditions and environment for the work of the Commission with the unprecedented increase of its 2017 budget by over 60% from its regular budget.

Alleged reprisals in the form of surveillance, public stigmatization and calls for resignation of the current Chair and staff of the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (PHL 12/2017), and the arbitrary detention of its former Chair, were included in the 2019 (A/HRC/42/30, Annex II paras. 79–80) and 2018 reports of the Secretary- General (A/HRC/39/41, paras. 61–62 and Annex I, paras. 84–85). In particular, the High Commissioner in her July 2019 report (A/HRC/44/22, para. 58) noted that former Chair and Senator, Ms. Leila de Lima, arbitrarily detained for three years, is among the women officials critical of Government policy who faced reprisals. 64 99. During the reporting period, OHCHR received information that the Commission continued to be the target of threats, intimidation and public questioning, given its support to, and engagement with, the UN. When the Human Rights Council voted in favour of the resolution on the human rights situation in the Philippines in July 2019 (A/HRC/RES/41/2), newspaper articles reportedly condemned statements by the Commission which had advocated for the implementation of the resolution and had called for the Government to cooperate with OHCHR. In November 2019, during the Senate’s public deliberations on the Commission’s proposed 2020 budget, legislators accused the Commission of favouring criminals. The Senate President reportedly raised questions concerning international organizations with which the Commission had engaged, and requested the list of such organizations to be submitted to the Senate.

102. On 23 July 2020, the Government responded in detail to the note verbale in connection to the present report. The Government stressed that the Commission on Human Rights enjoys its continued support and that its budget has even increased. Views expressed during the Senate’s budget debate should not be considered as reprisals, as they are part of free political debate. The reply did not provide new details about the situation of detained former Chair and Senator Ms. Leila de Lima.