MANILA – The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is set to mount a separate investigation into the viral video that involved a mentally-challenged person allegedly used for a smear campaign in Pasig City. 

CHR Commissioner Beda Epres told ABS-CBN News the 57-year-old victim was “not in full possession of her mental faculties.”

“Magko-conduct kami ng sariling investigation other than the investigation being conducted by the DSWD at titingnan namin ano ang nangyari. Sya ba ay pinwersa, siya ba ay kinoach kung ano ang kanyang sasabihin in favor of a candidate,” said Espres.

“Ang bottomline dito ay hindi dapat tine-take advantage ang kahinaan ng ating kababayan... lalong-lalo na mayroon siyang disability,” he added.

Epres said the agency monitored this in the city of Pasig. He added that they would include this in their monitoring along with election-related offenses.

People proven to be behind the incident might be penalized for human rights violations, he said.

“Dapat may prior consent doon sa tao. Kung hindi kayang magbigay ng tamang consent ‘yung ininterview, dapat humingi ng consent sa kanilang kaanak. Pero dahil sa kuwento ay yung kamag-anak mismo ang naalarma at nagrereklamo, most likely nag-take advantage kung sinumang political party o political candidate sa sitwasyon,” he said.

Maliah Scarlett, the victim’s niece, said her family was saddened with what happened. Her aunt can’t also go out of their home fearing she would be a subject of ridicule, Scarlett said.

While her family remains committed to their decision of no longer pressing charges against anyone, she said they would continue cooperating with the DSWD for the probe.

"Actually yun lang yung gusto ko mangyari na ma-enlighten ang mga tao at mali yung paggamit sa tita ko. Talagang tinuturuan lang siya kapalit ng 4 kilong bigas,” Scarlett said. 

The Facebook page and the vlogger behind the video involving her aunt did not ask permission from them, she said.

“Sana wag na nilang ituloy yung ganoong tactics kasi sobrang dumi naman ng ganoong technique, stratehiya at sana mabago na nila yung ganoong way nila to support a candidate,” she said.

ABS-CBN News has already reached out to the Facebook page for comment but it has yet to respond to queries.