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July 18, 2025 - BY Admin

Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission Pays Courtesy Visit to MP Benito, Explores Partnership on CSO Empowerment

Cotabato City | July 18, 2025
In a meeting grounded in mutual commitment to justice and inclusive development, the Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission (BHRC), led by its BHRC Division head Atty. Alladin Tamama, paid a courtesy visit to the office of Member of Parliament Abdulbasit R. Benito on July 18, 2025, in Cotabato City.
The visit focused on potential collaboration between the Office of MP Benito and the BHRC, particularly on strengthening Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) through paralegal training, human rights education, and community-based advocacy. BHRC highlighted the vital role CSOs play in promoting legal empowerment, defending vulnerable sectors, and deepening democratic participation in the Bangsamoro region.
Atty. Tamama noted that MP Benito is no stranger to the human rights movement. Long before assuming public office, Benito had already established a strong reputation in the field. He was one of the founding member and subsequently, became an Executive Director of the Mindanao Human Rights Action Center (MinHRAC) and one of its core founding members — a role that positioned him at the frontlines of human rights advocacy in conflict-affected areas of Mindanao. He also founded the Bangsamoro Center for JustPeace (BCJP), a peace and rights-based organization that has worked extensively with grassroots communities on transitional justice, legal empowerment, and peacebuilding.
“MP Benito is not only an advocate of human rights by principle — he is a product of the movement itself,” said Atty. Tamama. “His long years of work in the field, even before becoming a parliamentarian, make him a natural ally in our shared mission to empower the people.”
In response, MP Benito warmly welcomed the BHRC delegation and expressed strong support for the proposed partnership. He emphasized that human rights are not just a policy concern, but a personal advocacy rooted in his own journey.
“My passion for human rights began long before I entered Parliament,” Benito shared. “Having founded and led MinHRAC and BCJP, I’ve seen firsthand how legal literacy and empowered communities can make a difference — especially in the lives of the marginalized.”
He affirmed his commitment to support CSO empowerment initiatives in BARMM, including capacity-building for local paralegals and human rights defenders. Benito also expressed willingness to explore legislative and programmatic support for these efforts.
The meeting concluded on a hopeful and forward-looking note, with both BHRC and MP Benito agreeing to sustain the dialogue and develop concrete programs in the months to come.
With shared histories rooted in advocacy and people’s empowerment, the collaboration between MP Benito and the BHRC signals a strengthened push for a just, inclusive, and rights-respecting Bangsamoro where no one is left behind.