Commission on Human Rights chairman Atty. Jose Luis Martin “Chito” Gascon passed away on Saturday morning, his brother Miguel confirmed.
The CHR chair died after contracting COVID-19, Miguel noted in a Facebook post.
“Sa dami mong Laban, sa covid pa tayo na talo! ???????? Love you Kuya! RIP Chito Gascon,” he wrote.
The CHR said it will issue a statement shortly.
Gascon has been CHR chairman since 2015 after then President Benigno Aquino III appointed him.
He took over the CHR chair post from Loretta Ann Rosales. Gascon’s term is until May 2022.
Last month, Gascon attended a Senate finance subcommittee hearing to discuss the proposed budget of the CHR for 2022.
Gascon was a former director general of the Liberal Party from 2008 to 2011.
He was also a member of the Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board, which processed claims for compensation for victims of human rights violations during the Martial Law era.
During former President Gloria Macapal-Arroyo’s administration, Gascon served as education undersecretary and as a member of the peace panel which negotiated with the communist-led National Democratic Front.
He was also the youngest member of the 1986 Constitutional Commission which drafted the 1987 Constitution. —KG, GMA News
0 Comments