Bro. Eddie To Gov't.: What's The Delay In Forming HR Claims Board?

Bangon Pilipinas lone senatorial candidate Eddie Villanueva on Monday questioned the government’s sincerity in compensating Martial Law human rights victims, pointing out delays in the implementation of the landmark Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act.​

Villanueva said the elation of Martial Law human rights victims and their families over the passage of the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act is now fast dwindling, seeing no progress in the implementation of the landmark law.

​He noted that the administration has yet to make the first step in implementing the law which is the creation of the Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board. The Board is responsible for drafting the law’s implementing rules and regulations (IRR) as well as evaluating and processing the applications for the compensations due to the victims.​

“I don’t understand what is taking the government so long just to form the Claims Board. We have so many people qualified to fill up these open positions, and a group of Martial Law victims even provided a list of nominations.”

​“We just hope that this will not be a case of ningas cogon. Victims and their families have waited long enough to be recognized and compensated for the abuses they were made to suffer during the Martial Law years. The government should not add to this long wait by dragging its feet on the implementation of the law.”​

According to Villanueva, fellow Martial Law victims are expecting a stronger resolve from this administration to immediately implement the law given the President’s first-hand experience on the abuses committed during the dictatorship.

​“We owe it to Ninoy and others who were martyred and made to suffer various forms of abuses during the Martial Law to immediately implement the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act. Many of the victims and their families expect PNoy to prioritize this law’s implementation given his proximity to this issue. I hope the government does not disappoint them,” Villanueva said.

​Earlier, Villanueva pushed for the appointment of a Martial Law victim to head the nine-member Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board saying this will ensure that the body stays true to its mandate.

Villanueva also encouraged Martial Law human rights victims to band together and reach out to fellow victims and their families to push for the immediate implementation of the law.​

He said a sustained vigilance especially among human rights victims will ensure that majority, if not all, of those whose rights were violated during Martial Law are given the much-awaited recognition and compensation.

President Aquino signed the law on Feb. 25 Act to highlight the EDSA People Power revolution anniversary celebration.