Human rights champion Chito Gascon passes away

Human rights champion Chito Gascon passes away

MANILA (3rd UPDATE)— Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chair Jose Luis “Chito” Gascon has passed away, his brother said Saturday. 

He was 57.

“Sa dami mong laban, sa COVID pa tayo natalo,” Gascon’s brother Miguel said in a Facebook post. 

Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, without mentioning Gascon in a tweet, said the human rights leader supposedly gave up his bed in a hospital so that other COVID-19 patients could use it. 

“Before he died, he asked to be taken home so that others can use his hospital bed,” Leonen said in a tweet. 

“This is what being a human being looks like, a true leader,” he added.

Gascon was appointed to the rights body in 2015 by then president Benigno Aquino III. At the change of administration, he fought rights abuses in the Philippines, including alleged extrajudicial killings in the drug war. 

In a speech in 2017, he said: “We have entered a period of darkness, the sun is gone, night has fallen.” 

Gascon was a political activist and social reformer whose work for over three decades focused on human rights, democracy and governance.

CHR: HE WAS UNDAUNTED IN FIGHT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS 

In a statement, CHR said Gascon upheld the body’s mandate “courageously and steadfastly” amid assaults hurled against him and their agency. 

A panel in the House of Representatives in 2017 voted to pass a P1,000 budget for the commission, as lawmakers criticized the institution for supposedly “not upholding the human rights of everyone” and not going after criminals. 

In the same year, President Rodrigo Duterte also insulted Gascon for his human rights efforts and for denouncing his drug war. 

Despite these, however, Gascon’s leadership flourished and “has inspired and nurtured a culture of enabling, empowering, and safe environment,” CHR Spokesperson Jacqueline De Guia said.

“Amidst the unrelenting attacks against the institution and to him personally, he was unwavering and unflinching in fighting for the universal values of freedom, truth, and justice that are essential in the pursuit of human rights,” CHR Spokesperson Jacqueline De Guia said in a statement. 

“He was undaunting in the fight for human rights, rule of law, and democracy out of deep reverence to the equal rights and dignity of all,” she added. 

Gascon’s leadership also inspired the commission’s personnel due to his sincerity. 

“His leadership in the Commission has… nurtured a culture of enabling, empowering, and safe environment that move CHR personnel to always serve with genuine compassion,” according to De Guia. 

Meanwhile, Vice President Leni Robredo said Gascon touched many lives as he fought for his beliefs. 

Many people also looked up to him as a mentor and helped many people, she added.

“Ang dami niyang natulungan. Ang dami niyang na-inspire sa kanyang tapang at paninindigan. His was a constant light in these dark times. It is now up to all of us to tend to this light,” Robredo’s message read.

(He helped a lot of people and inspired many because of his courage and his stand.)

The Vice President also remembered how the former human rights chief marched against dictatorship as chairman of the University of the Philippines student council.

“Binuksan niya ang pinto para makilahok nang mas malalim ang napakarami sa demokrasya natin.”

(He opened the door so everyone could participate in our democracy)

 A ‘TRUE LEADER’

In a tweet, lawyer Theodore Te, a former Supreme Court spokesperson, called Gascon “a giant for human rights.”

“Chair Chito Gascon, rest in power. You fought the good fight. You stood your ground and held fast. You took the fight to the enemy. You were a giant for human rights. The forest is barer because of your fall, but the seeds that you planted will yield fruit,” he said. 

Sen. Richard Gordon also expressed his condolences to Gascon’s family, saying he was “saddened” that the official lost the battle to COVID-19. 

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, which Gordon chairs, is investigating the government’s alleged misuse of pandemic funds. 

“I am pained to see so many deaths from COVID-19, and cannot condole personally with the families dealing with this painful ordeal,” the lawmaker said in a tweet. 

The Federation of Free Workers also condoled with Gascon’s family. Its president Sonny Matula said he had known Gascon since he was a student leader and that the latter walked with the group in many rallies and pickets.

“Godspeed Chito Gascon to the great beyond!” Matula said in a statement.

Bayan Secretary General Renato Reyes said they are grieving with the human rights community, noting Gascon’s push for accountability despite intimidation under the Duterte administration. 

“We thank him for his valuable contribution to the struggle for justice and the full realization of basic human rights. At a time of escalating state terror, Chito’s voice will surely be missed,” the statement read.

“We pay tribute to his work in the CHR which included supporting the cause of thousands of human rights victims of the Duterte regime, providing a safe space and sanctuary for human rights defenders, and amplifying the call for accountability over the reign of terror and impunity under this regime,” Reyes added.

The Department of National Defense also expressed their condolences to the official’s family, as they recognized his work for human rights causes.

“The DND recognizes the great work done by the CHR under Chairman Gascon in the implementation of human rights laws. He will be missed,” Sec. Delfin Lorenzana said.

Lawmakers Lito Atienza, Carlos Zarate, and Sarah Elago also praised the peace worker’s sincere fight for human rights, with Atienza describing him as “a genuine freedom fighter, rights defender and a true Filipino patriot.”

“The Filipino people, especially the youth, will forever be grateful for your manifold contributions to building a just and humane society,” Elago said. 

“It is truly saddening to note that another untiring human rights advocate and defender left us during this challenging times of pushing back tyranny,” according to Zarate.

 LP: GASCON INSPIRED GENERATION OF LIBERALS

The Liberal Party (LP) also mourned the official’s passing. Gascon served as director-general of the party from 2008 to 2011. 

According to the party, he inspired an entire generation of liberals from when he was a student activist until later on, and “personally recruited” LP stalwarts Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, Rep. Teddy Baguilat and Rep. Erin Tañada.

“Sa maraming pagkakataong sinubok tayo ng kasaysayan, mula panahon ng martial law hanggang ngayon (for all the times we were challenged by history, from martial law until now) Chito was right there with us — ever reliable, relentless in defending freedom even at great personal cost, and always steadfast in his faith in our people and our democracy,” the statement read. 

“He was instrumental in keeping the Party on the path of courage and principle during times when it would have been easier to yield to the darker forces in our democracy,” the members of the party added.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, meanwhile, said she was devastated upon hearing Gascon’s passing, describing him as a “good friend.”

The former CHR chief, she noted, “understood the valuable link between human dignity and democracy” which could be seen from the over 30 years of his work. 

“I have personally witnessed him fight the good fight: defending human rights, fighting for democracy, and working for government reforms that promote accountability and the rule of law,” the lawmaker said.

According to the CHR website, Gascon served as member of the Human Rights Victims Claims Board, the body tasked to administer recognition and reparation programs to martial law victims, prior to his appointment to the commission.

Gascon also served as the youngest member to both the Constitutional Commission that drafted the 1987 Constitution, and the 8th Philippine Congress during the term of President Corazon Aquino.

Gascon graduated from the University of the Philippines with an undergraduate degree in Philosophy. 

He later earned a Bachelor of Laws from the same university. He has a Master of Law degree in International Law (Human Rights, Law of Peace, and Settlement of International Disputes) from Cambridge University. 

The CHR said Commissioner Karen Gomez Dumpit is the commission en banc’s officer-in-charge for the time being, following Gascon’s passing.