Netizens speak up on CHR's P1,000 budget for 2018

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 12) — One thousand pesos. That was the amount the House of Representatives approved for the Commission on Human Rights' proposed budget for next year.

Only 32 lawmakers voted against the budget, while 119 approved it Tuesday.

The topics #CHRBudgetCheaper, #GiveMyTaxToCHR, Human Rights, and P1,000 all trended on Twitter as of 11 p.m. Tuesday.

The amount effectively renders the Commission useless.

READ: House gives CHR P1,000 budget for 2018

Netizens took to social media immediately after announcement. They expressed disappointment and anger over the decision.

Allocating Php 1,000 for CHR is like giving a one week allowance for a college student. Hilarious! #CHRBudgetCheaper

— Michelle (@mytchterious) September 12, 2017

Online support for the decision was few and far in between, with netizens calling for CHR Chair Chito Gascon to step down "for the sake of Human Rights."

Most sided with the Commission, saying the approved budget was a "political message" aimed at opponents of President Rodrigo Duterte.

But it wasn't just ordinary Filipinos who stood up for the CHR. Senators Chiz Escudero and Ping Lacson said they would fight for the restoration of the CHR budget.