Joker presses bicam on HR compensation bill

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Joker Arroyo is asking other senators to push the bicameral conference committee to approve a bill seeking to grant compensation to victims of martial law.

The bill has been passed at the Senate and the House of Representatives during the present Congress.

Arroyo said the bill also seeks the creation of a museum, honor roll and remembrance for all documented human rights victims.

“For all the tortures that were committed in martial law, has anyone been jailed?” he asked.

Arroyo also supported calls to abolish the Presidential Commission on Good Government.

 â€œTwenty six years after (martial law) it will be difficult for PCGG to recover illegal wealth,” he said.

“Any lawyer will tell you, the efforts to get (it) will go naught. There are pending cases, which can be pursued.

“In other words, the cases now pending at the solicitor general will have to proceed. The abolition of the PCGG will not mean the cases will be forgotten.

“What can be done perhaps is, if the President will tell the PCGG to start winding up, then they can start. When Congress convenes in July, Congress can create a law abolishing the PCGG.”