The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is not budging an inch from its position that it has the mandate to investigate the arrest, inquest and prosecution of the Morong 43 since its mandate is derived from the 1987 Constitution.

Ruling on the contention of military lawyers that since criminal charges have been filed against the Morong 43 by the Branch 78 of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Morong, Rizal, the jurisdiction over the accused is with the regular courts and not the CHR, the commission said.

In its March 19 order compelling the custodians of the Morong 43 to bring the detainees to the hearing on April 12, the CHR stressed that the contention of State Prosecutor Romeo Senson that the case is sub judice and the commission is prohibited from summoning anyone to answer charges that the arrest, inquest, detention and prosecution of the Morong 43 are illegal and void from the start. (MNB)