Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raymond Palatino today slammed the rumored appointment of former Akbayan Partylist Representative Etta Rosales as chair of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), calling it an “insult” and a “provocation to spark animosity” between the left and Noynoy Aquino’s government.

“Is there no one else he can choose to be the next human rights chair? Why appoint someone who is known to be antagonistic with the Left? Is Noynoy really serious in addressing extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances?” said Palatino.

Leftist organizations and individuals have been the primary victims of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances under the past administration. Recently, the first case of extrajudicial killing happened under the Aquino administration which took the life of Bayan Muna official and Aklan native Fernando Baldomero.

According to Palatino, appointing Rosales as human rights head is a “grave insult ” to the victims of political killings as she has been known to be among those who “insinuate that leftist organizations are ‘fronts’ of the Communist Party of the Philippines, echoing the military lie that extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances are part of the internal communist purging.”

“Most of the victims of human rights violations, killings and disappearances are members of progressive groups. To place someone like Rosales in the CHR is a slap in the face of the victims and their families. Is Noynoy deliberately provoking animosity between the leftists and the government?” asks the youth solon.

Palatino urges Noynoy to find someone like former CHR chair Leila de Lima’s performance who has shown her independence and willingness to cooperate with activist groups without prejudice.

“The CHR needs someone who is impartial and not someone who has known bias against progressive groups, not especially someone who thinks the same way as the military,” ends Palatino. ###