Manila (6 June) -- Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chair Leila de Lima said she will put up an independent Forensic Center for the commission to improve its investigative expertise.

De Lima -- who took her oath of office as CHR chair before President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday morning -- said the CHR is presently "very dependent" on the Philippine National Police (PNP), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and private experts for the CHR's forensic needs.

At the same time, De Lima said she will set up a program to improve the forensic technical skills of CHR personnel. This, she explained, will help remedy the "lack of witnesses which is always the problem in human rights cases."

President Arroyo had been calling on concerned government agencies to hasten the investigation and resolution of human rights cases.

The lady CHR head added that the CHR will also focus in monitoring the government's compliance with its obligations in "at least eight core" international human rights treaties.

The CHR will also "revitalize" the Barangay Human Rights Action Centers to promote human rights awareness in the grassroots level, especially about the human-rights provisions of various laws.

President Arroyo administered De Lima's oath at Malacanang's Reception Hall where the latter's circle of family and friends -- led by her father, former Commission on Election (COMELEC) executive director Vicente de Lima -- converged to witness the event.