MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Ever since the House of Representatives approved a P1,000 budget for the Commission on Human Rights, questions have arisen on whether the agency is truly a constitutional body as well as on the 7-year term of its commissioners.

A supposed copy of an Executive Order issued by then President Corazon Aquino seems to indicate that the CHR was created/confirmed through the EO, and that a subsequent addendum to the order clarified that the commissioners serve “at the pleasure of the President.”

The Adobo Chronicles could not independently confirm the authenticity of the EO or the addendum, and so we asked Malacañang for comment.

In response, PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar denied that the CHR Chair or commissioners “serve at the pleasure of the President.”

On the contrary, Andanar said:

“The commissioners, especially the current chair Chito Gascon, actually serve at the DISPLEASURE of the President.”

We can certainly understand that.