shall receive the same salary as the Chairman and Members, respectively, of the
Constitutional Commissions, which shall not be decreased during their term of office.
Section 3
The Commission on Human Rights shall have the following powers and functions:
• Investigate, on its owner on complaint by any party all forms of human rights
violations involving civil and political rights;
• Adopt its operational guidelines and rules of procedure, and cite for contempt for
violations thereof in accordance with the rules of Court.
• Provide appropriate legal measures for the protection of human rights of all persons
within the Philippines, as well as Filipinos residing abroad and provide for preventive
measures and legal aid services to the under-privileged whose human rights have been
violated or need protection;
• Exercise visitorial powers over jails, prisons, or detention facilities;
• Establish a continuing program of research, education and information to enhance
respect for the primacy of human rights;
• Recommend to the Congress effective measures to promote human rights and to
provide for compensation to victim of violations of human rights, or their families;
• Monitor the Philippine Government's compliance with international treaty obligations
on human rights;
• Grant immunity form prosecution to any person whose testimony or whose possession
of documents or other evidence is necessary or convenient to determine the truth in any
investigation conducted by it or under its authority;
• Request the assistance of any department, bureau, office or agency in the performance
of its functions;
• Appoint its officer and employees in accordance with law; and
• Perform such other duties and functions as may be provided by law.
Section 4
The presidential committee on human Rights, created under executive Order no. 8
dated March 18, 1996, as modified, is hereby abolished. The Commission on Human
Rights shall exercise such functions and powers of the presidential committee on
Human Rights under Executive Order No. 8, as modified, which are not inconsistent
with the provisions of the 1987 Constitution.