CHR official apologizes for scolding media

Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Commissioner Cecilia "Coco" Quisumbing on Monday apologized for scolding some members of the media during a recent press conference. "I'm really sorry about it. I really hope that I will be forgiven, not only the media but also the general public," Quisumbing told reporters after a technical working group meeting at the Senate on Monday. On Friday, the CHR official scolded some reporters and cameramen because they were not facing her in the same direction. "If you're not in my line of sight, I'm not going to talk to you," she said. She also directed them where to sit before the press conference, saying that she knew what she was doing because she was a former broadcaster. However, Quisumbing explained that she was just in a bad mood because of the pressure of having to handle requests for interview while "Anna," the wife of alleged police torture victim Darius Evangelista, was at the CHR premises. She likewise said that the media were at the receiving end of her frustration against the staff and security personnel of the CHR, who were not available to help her pick up Anna on Thursday, August 19, because it was a holiday in Quezon City. She admitted, however, that her behavior towards the media was "inexcusable." "I don't want people think I'm justifying this, I don't want people to think I'm sweeping this under the rug," she said. Quisumbing said that despite the incident, she still hopes to work together with the media in the future. "The role of the media in human rights is very important," she said. - VVP, GMANews.TV