A Palace spokesperson on Thursday said President Rodrigo Duterte was just “expressing his frustrations” when he said the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) should be abolished.
In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the president is simply “expressing his frustration” on the “apparent biases” of the Commission.
“He’s merely…not merely, he’s actually stating his frustration regarding the CHR,” Abella told reporters.
“However, it is a Constitutional commission and it cannot be abolished by a mere legislation. The chairperson and its members serve at the pleasure of the President,” he stressed.
When asked if the President might fire CHR Chair Chito Gascon, Abella said: “Technically, he can be replaced at his [Duterte’s] pleasure.”
Abella, however, quickly clarified that his statement was not an “empty threat.”
“We do not talk about empty threats, we talk about concerns,” the spokesperson said.