MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is renewing her call to the incoming 14th Congress to prioritize the passage of a bill that would provide compensation to victims of human rights violations during the martial law regime, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita announced today.
The President, for the second time, certified as urgent Senate Bill No. 1745, otherwise known as the Human Rights Victims Compensation Act of 2004, Ermita said.
“The Presidents objective is to address the urgent need of compensating and recognizing the heroism of all Filipinos who were victims of human rights violations during the martial law regime of former President Ferdinand Marcos,” he explained.
Ermita said Malacanang is very hopeful that the two chambers of Congress will pass the bill and heed the call of the families of the victims of human rights violations.
The approval of the bill, he pointed out, would lead to the speedy compensation of hundreds of victims of human rights violations during the martial law.
The President first certified as urgent Senate Bill 1330 on Sept. 4 last year. The bill provides for “compensation to the victims of human rights violations during the regime of former President Ferdinand Marcos, documentation of said violations, appropriating funds therefore, and for other purposes. ” House Bill 1319 provides for “compensation to victims of human rights violations during the Marcos regime and for other purposes.”
On the arrival in the Philippines of experts from European Union, Ermita assured the public that Malacanang would give “full cooperation” to all members of the team in order to help the government resolve the spate of extrajudicial killings in the country.
The experts, composed of three officials from the Belgium-based European Commission, police, technical and human rights experts from other EU countries, are scheduled to arrive in Manila on June 18.
