CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija -- Rep. Rosanna Vergara, the only one from 22 legislators of Central Luzon, who rejected the slash to PHP1,000 of the Commission on Human Rights' (CHR) 2018 budget, believes congressmen voted according to their conscience.
Vergara, who belongs to the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), said she voted against the budget slash because "I believe that CHR is a very important body in our democracy."
She denied receiving pressure from anyone, even from the super majority.
"Personally, I didn't feel any pressure. I don't know the other representatives," Vergara said.
Asked if she felt the possible adverse effects of voting against by the majority, Vergara said, "In God's mercy, I do not see it."
Vergara said she learned the history of CHR creation and found that the agency is vital in a democratic government.
Vergara said she stood up as a qoute from Martin Niemoller, a staunch critic of the Nazi, resonated with her which she stated:
"When they came for the social democrats, I did not speak up because I was not a social democrat. Then they came for the trade unionists, I did not speak up because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came from the Jews, I did not speak up because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me." (PNA)
