Human rights action centers in 22 PUP campuses soon

MANILA, Philippines - Marking the 164th celebration of international human rights week, the Commission on Human Rights and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) setting up the Human Rights Action Center and Rule of Law (HRAC and Rol) in the university's 22 campuses and branches.

The HRAC and Rol is CHR’s flagship education program that aims to mainstream human rights in the academic community, among others.

Martial Law Files Project (MLFP) Manager Myrna Jimenez, spearheading the signing at the CHR head office in Quezon City, stressed this is a “milestone” as this marks the start of human rights education mainstreaming in schools and universities.

Signing the MOU are CHR Chairperson Loretta Ann Rosales, PUP president Emanuel De Guzman, PhD, CHR Commissioner Jose Manuel Mamauag; Mrs. Ruth G. Prudente, wife of former PUP president Nemesio Prudente; PUP Human Rights and Gender Studies Director Hilda Felipe San Gabriel, MLFP Manager Myrna Jimenez, PUP Professor Antonio Umali and Engineer Estelita Del Rosario, sister of Charlie Del Rosario, a desaparecido during martial law.

While the Claims Board, mandated by law to attest to the veracity of human rights violations claims has yet to be formed, close to 10,000 human rights victims will receive P 50,000 this coming 27 January 2014, the second monetary benefits to the martial law victims after the USD 1,000 awarded in 2011.

Zenaida Mique, Claimants 1081 official, explained that this monetary benefit was derived from the USD 10 million settlement over the 1899 painting by French artist Claude Monet that Imelda Marcos previously owned. The painting is only one out of the 200 paintings that the Marcoses owned. In 2010, the New York District Attorney indicted Vilma Bautista, a former assistant to Imelda Marcos, for the illegal sale of said Monet painting.

The distribution will be given personally for about eight weeks. Martial law survivors will receive a letter designating the date and place where they can get the money.PNA