THE UNIVERSITY of the Philippines on Saturday mourned the passing of its alumnus — Commission on Human Rights Chairperson Jose Luis ‘Chito’ Gascon.

He passed away following a bout with Covid19 at the age of 57.

“The University of the Philippines expresses deep sadness over the news that Commission on Human Rights Chair Jose Luis ‘Chito’ Gascon has passed away,” the university said on Facebook.

“Chito was elected Chair of the UP Student Council in 1985 and led the youth movement that actively participated in the non-violent People Power Revolution in February 1986,” it added.

Gascon graduated from UP Diliman with an undergraduate degree in philosophy. He also held a Bachelor of Laws degree and a Master of Law from University of Cambridge.

The CHR chief was also the youngest member of the Constitutional Commission that drafted the 1987 Constitution, as well as the 8th Congress.

Gascon was appointed to the rights body by then president Benigno Aquino III in 2015.