Former President Benigno Aquino III says a silent prayer in front of his parents’ grave at the Manila Memorial Park in Paranaque, Tuesday. Family and friends commemorated the 8th death anniversary of Former President Corazon Aquino.(MNS photo)
MANILA, Aug 1 (Mabuhay) — Former President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday expressed apprehension over the proposed dissolution of the Presidential Commission on Good Government and the Commission on Human Rights.
The two government agencies were created during the term of his mother, former President Corazon Aquino, after the late strongman, Ferdinand Marcos was ousted from power.
Aquino said PCGG’s work, which was to run after the allegedly stolen wealth of the Marcos family, was not yet done.
“Sa PCGG, natapos na ba yung trabaho nila? Nung panahon ko, meron pa ring mga nare-recover, meron pa ring mga hinahabol na aminado, hindi pa rin tayo natatapos dahil sa totoo lang, hindi tayo sigurado kung may isang taong buhay na alam lahat itong lahat ng nire-recover na ito,” he said in an ambush interview at the Manila Memorial Park where a mass for his late mother was held. Corazon passed away Aug 1, 2009.
“Baka pag pinagsama-sama mo yung mga alam ng kung sino-sino, baka mabuo yan,” he added.
The CHR meanwhile remained necessary in an imperfect society, he said.
“Hindi pa natin masasabi na nasagad ng CHR yung dapat niyang trabaho at habang buhay ang tao at yung pangangailangan na pangalagaan yung karapatang pantao, pwede ba nating buwagin ang isang ahensya na siyang nangangalaga nito?,” he said.
“Hanggang hindi natin naaabot yung perpektong lipunan, sa tingin ko [ay] may pangangailangan sa isang Commission on Human Rights,” he added.
The Duterte administration earlier announced plans to abolish the PCGG, amid the resurrection of the political career of the Marcos family.
“They don’t do anything. What do they do?” Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said, referring to the PCGG.
President Rodrigo Duterte meanwhile threatened to abolish the CHR, which had reported alleged human rights abuses in his campaign against illegal drugs. (MNS)