Senate panel approves CHR budget for 2024

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 19) — A Senate finance sub-committee approved on Tuesday the ₱976-million proposed budget of the Commission on Human Rights for 2024.

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada submitted the agency's budget for plenary debates just minutes after he opened the hearing.

"The deliberation of the proposed budget of the Commission on Human Rights and the Human Rights Violations Victims Memorial Commission is hereby submitted to the plenary since no other senators are willing to question," Estrada said.

In an earlier budget hearing, Sen. Raffy Tulfo promised CHR officials that he would push for higher confidential funds for the agency.

Tulfo said the agency's proposed ₱1-million confidential fund is insufficient for its investigation of human rights violations. It was, however, retained in the approved budget.