House ‘Ilocano bloc’ to oppose HR victims’ bill

The "Ilocano bloc" in the House of Representatives will block the passage of House Bill No. 4535, which seeks to compensate victims of human rights violations during the Marcos regime.

Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano and Ifugao Rep. Solomon Chungalao said the 28 legislators of the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR), Cagayan Valley and Northern Luzon will strongly oppose the bill being pushed by Akbayan party-list Rep. Loretta Ann Rosales on constitutional grounds.

The legislators said the bill covers only the 10,000 victims awarded damages by a Hawaii court and the amendment of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL).

"It (HB 4535) violates the equal protection clause of the Constitution, where you, through law, compensate a class," Albano said.

He said that though the bill’s intent is to compensate the victims of martial law abuses, proceeds from the Marcos ill-gotten wealth must go to the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.

"There are two subject matters in one title," he said. "There must be one title and one subject matter."

Albano said that while Rosales wants to expand the coverage of the bill to include other human rights victims, there is no new measure being filed for that purpose.

Tarlac Rep. Benigno Aquino III earlier opposed any moves to expand the coverage of the proposed Marcos compensation bill to cover victims of human rights violations of other administrations.

Aquino has, however, allayed concerns that the measure would wind up being class legislation.

"Martial law was an aberration," he said. "It was the period where the state, instead of protecting the people, actually issued and implemented measures harming the people."

After the 1986 People Power Revolution, Aquino said, soldiers and policemen have been wary of being charged with human rights violations, despite some unfortunate incidents.

He said it was very clear that the Marcos era was an abnormal situation, to say the least.

"The victims must get their justice," said Aquino, the son of slain Sen. Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., whose assassination on Aug. 21, 1983 catalyzed events that led to the 1986 EDSA revolt that unseated strongman Ferdinand Marcos, his political arch-enemy who was then president.