Filipino poet Bonifacio Ilagan, one of hundreds of activists imprisoned during the Martial Law period which was declared by the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, poses by the granite wall which is engraved with the names of Martial Law victims, including his sister Rizalina Ilagan, at the Heroes Shrine at suburban Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines Monday Jan. 28, 2013. More than 9,000 victims will be awarded compensation using $246 million that the Philippine government recovered from Marcos’ ill-gotten wealth. But all claims will still have to evaluated by an independent commission and the amount each will receive will depend of the abuse suffered. (MNS photo)
Three months after the November 10, 2014 deadline expiration, President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III has approved Joint Resolution No. 3 extending for six months the deadline for Martial Law claims application to May 2015.
Joint Resolution No. 3 is the consolidation of Senate Joint Resolution No. 10 and House Joint Resolution No. 16.
“The enactment of the law is a crucial victory for the families and victims of human rights violations during the Martial Law period whose hope and opportunity to file their claims for reparation and redress for the sacrifices and sufferings they endured in the past were blighted by the November 2014 deadline,” Akbayan Rep. Barry Gutierrez.
“With the new deadline, we ensure that all legitimate claimants, particularly those who are now in their final years and those who are living in the far-flung areas, are given the vital time and full opportunity to file their claims with the Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board,” the lawmaker added.
Gutierrez said that an estimated 25,000 to 50,000 legitimate claimants are yet to file their claims for reparation under Republic Act No. 10368, or the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013.
“Even as a new deadline is set, we, however, continue to urge the various grassroots-based civil society organizations located across the country to support the Board in reaching out to all the victims, many of whom have no access to public information on Martial Law claims and the Claims board,” the Akbayan solon said.
“Through our collective efforts, we could help usher in the much-needed redress to the victims and provide a proper recognition of their heroism and sacrifices in defense of individual rights and liberties and the nation’s democracy while laying down the necessary steps toward national healing and renewal,” he concluded.