Give Sarmiento a chance as HR board head – Palace

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang appealed yesterday to the general public to give retired police general Lina Sarmiento a chance to prove herself as head of a board overseeing the distribution of some P10 billion in compensation to martial law victims.

Sarmiento is considered a “security sector reformist” and deserves at least a chance to show her worth as head of the Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board, Secretary Edwin Lacierda, spokesman of President Aquino, said.

“Let’s give her a chance. Besides, the board also has many human rights advocates who had been highly recommended,” he told Palace reporters in a news briefing.

Some former political detainees questioned Sarmiento’s appointment to the nine-man board, noting her job is to deal with victims of alleged abuse by state forces – including the police – during martial law.

During her stint in the Philippine National Police, Sarmiento was assigned to head the PNP Human Rights Affairs Office. She is known as the PNP’s first female two-star general.

Last week, Aquino appointed Sarmiento and eight others to the claims board. The others are Wilfred Asis, Galuasch Ballaho, Byron Bocar, Jose Luis Martin Gascon, Glenda Litong, Jacqueline Veloria Mejia, Aurora Corazon Parong and Erlinda Senturias.

Press Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the board was created pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act 10368, the Human Rights Victims’ Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013, which Aquino enacted into law last year.

Sarmiento said yesterday her being a former police officer does not make her an enemy of militant groups.

“I am not an enemy. I am just a woman, a Filipino who simply wants to help,” said Sarmiento in a telephone interview. “I thank President Aquino for giving me this opportunity to become an instrument of his determination to serve justice to human rights victims.”