FILE PHOTO: Human Rights Victims Claims Board Chairperson Lina Sarmiento supervising her staff in processing the claims
MANILA, Philippines — Only around 11,000 out of more than 75,000 applicants are recognized as legitimate victims of human rights violation during the martial law under the term of former President Ferdinand Marcos.
Claims Board chairperson Lina Sarmiento said that more than 60,000 of the applicants have been disqualified because they lack or have insufficient evidence required by law to support their claim.
A claimant who gets 10 points, which is classified as “extreme violation of human rights,” may receive up to P1.7 million as monetary reparation.
But chairperson Lina Sarmiento has suggested that those who did not pass the requirements may be entitled to non-monetary reparation which includes scholarship program and assistance from Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
“Non-monetary reparations should be provided for alleged claimants who cannot provide evidence,” said former Human Rights chair Eta Rosales.
Sarmiento, however, said the law they use in adjudicating applicants is too strict.
She added that even categorizing the victims of torture is not that simple.
It should be based on the Anti-torture Law which includes detention and systematic beating, headbanging and the like.
“Para sa isang ordinaryong magsasaka, pupunta ka sa bukid mo nakasalubong mo yung sundalo wala ka namang ginagawa bigla kang ginulpi. Alam mo ikaw ay binugbog pero sabi ng mga mambabatas hindi torture yun. Eh ano gagawin ng Claims Board? Denied.” said Sarmiento.
( An ordinary farmer on his way to the field bumps into a soldier and gets beaten up for no reason. He knows he was beaten up but the lawmakers say it’s not torture. What would the Claims Board do then? Denied.)
The government has allotted P10-billion for the claims and it should be distributed before May 12, 2018 when the Claims Board’s term ends. — Rey Pelayo | UNTV News & Rescue
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