MANILA, Philippines — Members of the House of Representatives called on Saturday for the immediate passage of the human rights compensation bill for thousands of human rights victims during the two-decade old Marcos regime following the approval of US$7.5- million pay-out for the human rights victims by the Honolulu Court. Deputy Speaker and Quezon Rep. Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada, Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Rep. Antonio Tinio and Gabriela Rep. Luz Ilagan pressed for the compensation bill that seeks to provide assistance to some 10,000 victims of involuntary disappearances, torture, murders, rape, and harassment during martial law years.
Tañada said the bill should be enacted into law to compensate the victims apart from pay-out directed by the US court.
“Although the amount may be small compared to the sufferings the victims and their families went through, it is an acknowledgement that human rights violations happened during the Marcos administration.
This amount granted by the Hawaiian Court does not include the P10 billion transferred from the Swiss accounts regarding ill-gotten wealth. In other words, the human rights victims will be getting an additional amount once a law is passed,” he said.
Human rights lawyer Rod C. Domingo Jr., of the Filipino Counsel of Victims of Marcos Human Rights Violations, on Saturday welcomed reports that thousands of victims of human rights in the Philippines will finally receive compensation after more than 25 years.
Charisa Luci, Manila Bulletin
