Martial law victims may get compensation next year

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines – Some 75,000 victims of martial law may be able to receive the P10-billion compensation fund by next year.

Commission on Human Rights Chairman Chito Gascon said the Human Rights Victims Claims Board created under Republic Act 10368 is now processing the claims.

“We have about 75,000 claimants to the compensation fund and the human rights violations board is processing the claims so that by next year, we will pay out from the P10-billion fund,” he said.

Gascon spoke at a press conference during the blessing in San Fernando of the new P14-million CHR regional building that the Spanish government had donated.

Gascon said the construction of the proposed P500-million martial law museum in Quezon City will also start by next year.

The Human Rights Board is composed of representatives from various government agencies led by the CHR.

Gascon said the P10-billion compensation fund and the P500-million allocation for the museum have remained in the national treasury. “The funds are from the interest earned from the deposits of recovered Marcos wealth,” he said.

Gascon said the National Historical Commission under Maris Diokno is launching soon a contest for the design of the museum to be built near the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center in Diliman, Quezon City.