Bill to seek reparation, recognition anew for Martial law victims pushed in PH Congress

Makabayan Bloc accompanied by martial law victims and members of Samahan ng Ex-detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA) filed House Bill No 3505 or the New Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2022 before the House of Representatives on August 11.

The groups sought to resume the processing of claims over gross human rights violations committed under the Marcos dictatorship.

Amnesty International has documented cases of 3,257 extrajudicial killings, 35,000 victims of torture, 77 forcibly disappeared, and 70,000 incarcerations during the reign of the Marcos dictatorship.

Beyond Human Rights Victims Reparations and Recognition Act

In 2013, former president Benigno Noynoy Aquino signed the Republic Act 10368 or the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act to provide reparation and recognition to human rights victims of the Marcos reign of terror during Martial law.

Accordingly, the law was the culmination of the victims’ struggle for freedom which toppled the Marcos dictatorship.

Meanwhile, a P10 billion budget was allocated in its implementation which came from the Marcoses’ ill-gotten wealth as obtained by the Philippine government from the Swiss Federal Supreme Court. According to the law, the ill-gotten wealth will be the principal source of funds for the implementation.

However, the law was given five years to execute which lapsed in 2018.

Upon execution, it was Human Rights Victims Claims Board (HRVCB) that receive, evaluate, investigate, and adjudicate the human rights violations victims with substantial documents before the distribution of money claims.

But the HRVCB only accepted 11,103 against the more than 75,000 victims of the horrors of martial law.

SELDA alongside human rights groups called out the conception of HRVCB which was headed by Lina Sarmiento, a retired police general and former Philippine Constabulary (PC), saying that it had been a mockery and grave insult to the gross human rights victims of Marcos, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the PC during Martial law.

“For true unity to prosper, we must acknowledge the injustices wrought by Martial Law and provide the proper compensation to the victims. This is justice that they are owed and must be delivered to them,” said by the Makabayan bloc

To reiterate, not all martial law victims received compensation and 63,897 are the estimated number of victims who remained unrecognized and uncompensated.

“Thousands more were left unrecognized and uncompensated despite the glaring evidence.The government’s delays and neglect further aggravate the pain and suffering brought by the atrocities that we endured during Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s Bloody regime. This is highly unacceptable.”said by Danilo de la Fuente, a Martial law victim and vice chairperson for SELDA.

For instance, SELDA member Edith Castro submitted her requirements to HRVCB but was later on denied saying that they have not complied with the requirements of the board seeking important, substantial pieces of evidence such as notarized affidavits and the likes. 

“We already suffered enough as victims of human rights violations during martial law. We have been carrying the pain and trauma for almost half a century now. Many of us already died without experiencing any sort of justice or recognition. To suffer the difficulties in complying with the requirements of the law only to be denied is a violation twice over,” Castro noted. 

SELDA affirmed to continue their fight until all martial law victims are recognized and compensated. They further urged the Filipino people to stand for justice and truth, especially with yet another Marcos in the government partnered with his predecessor and drug-war promoter’s daughter Sara Duterte.

This tandem of Marcos-Duterte has been greatly criticized amid the rich history of horrors and bloodbaths with countless human rights violations committed since their clan has been in political power.