When 51 farmers staging a peaceful rally in Mendiola were gunned down by the military under Aquino on 22 January 1987 during the Mendiola Massacre, Jose Diokno, father of human rights, head of the Presidential Committee on Human Rights, chairman of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), and chairman of the government panel in charge of negotiations with rebel forces resigned from his government posts in deep disgust and great sadness. His daughter Maris said, "It was the only time we saw him near tears."