Noy to back bill pushing compensation for human rights victims

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino will support a bill that would again push for the compensation of human rights victims in the martial law regime of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who was the political opponent of his father, the slain Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.

“I will be supporting that (compensating human rights victims),” he told Palace reporters in a chance interview. “I think when both Etta Rosales and I were Congress people, we were in support of their advocacies.”

Rosales was his former colleague at the House of Representatives from party-list group Akbayan while Mr. Aquino was congressman of his home province Tarlac. He had since appointed Rosales chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights.

The President also pointed out that he had been supportive of the Agrarian Reform Law, which has been one of the cornerstones of his mother’s presidency, along with the compensation of victims who have been totured by security forces then under Marcos.

“We have been supportive up to their compensation, including amending the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law that states basically that all the proceeds go to them. But then it is subject to so much litigation in at least two countries,” he explained.

“In my mother’s case, I think the emphasis was first on the identification of ill-gotten wealth. Bagong parte ngayon, dapat siguro maipon and their recovery of the same,” he added.

He clarified, however, that there ought to be a bill first, that will become a law later.

“Those bills we passed when we were members of the House should be acted upon now. I will make sure that this will happen,” Mr. Aquino told reporters in Filipino.

But the list of the victims must be verified, and would include others who have not been included, he said.

“First, we should make clear who all the victims. In Tarlac, I know many victims who are still to apply. And we have to amend the law,” he said.

Former First Lady Imelda Marcos, wife of the late strongman who is now a congresswoman representing Ilocos Norte, the home province of her late husband, had earlier hinted she would support such moves.

“Whatever is good,” she said when asked if she will support the bill if re-filed in the 15th Congress.

“Because I’m the number one major victim of human rights, I have not had my justice since 1986 but anyway I’m sure things will come out right, I’m very positive and I’m very excited about this because united, this country has so much potential,” she told reporters.

Marcos’ children – Imee and Ferdinand II – have returned to politics, the eldest daughter being Ilocos Norte governor while the only son and namesake is now a member of the Philippine Senate.

The Marcoses were ousted in Feb. 1986 that ended his 20-year dictatorial rule.

The compensation bill, which has failed to pass in the last two congresses, will benefit the families of some 10,000 victims of involuntary disappearances, torture, murders, rape, and harassment during the Marcos years.

A law is needed to compensate the human rights victims because the sequestered ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses is set aside for the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law.