Martial law “victims” start process for claims

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — At least two hundred people have flocked to the Negros Oriental Convention Center in this city to process their claims for government benefits as victims of the martial law in the Philippines.

A team from the Human Rights Claims Board also arrived here Wednesday for the three-day processing, as part of the government’s six-month campaign to process claims by victims of various forms of abuse during martial law under the late President Ferdinand Marcos.

The HRCB was assisted by officials and representatives of the Commission on Human Rights in Negros Oriental and from its regional office in Cebu.

CHR-Negros Oriental chief, Jess Cañete, disclosed Thursday that a large number of the claims’ applicants were from nearby provinces and towns in Mindanao, far from his initial impression that the processing here was mainly for claimants in the province.

Still, the people who came here were assisted by lawyers of the Public Attorney’s Office for the execution of their affidavits and other documents and requirements, Cañete said.

Claims of various types of abuses, suffering and sacrifices during martial law were being attended to, although these were being validated and evaluated for authenticity, he said.

Cañete however warned claim applicants and their families against untruthful, deceptive or misleading information because these would result in denial or disapproval of their applications, or even being charged in court for perjury.

The HRCB website announced that application for claims will end on November 10, these year, and failure of the victims to file for benefits claims within the 6-month period, will be considered a waiver.

The names of the victims will also be enshrined in the Roll of Human Rights Violations Victims that will be turned over to the Human Rights Violations Victims Memorial Commission, added HRCB. —Judy Flores Partlow (FREEMAN)