Also enact Marcos victims’ compensation bill

WE WELCOME the approval of the anti-enforced disappearance bill by the congressional bicameral committee. It is high time that a law criminalizing enforced disappearance be enforced.

Martial law activist Rizalina Ilagan, a student leader from the University of the Philippines Los Baños, was disappeared in 1977, together with nine other students and professors from the same university. They were later called the Southern Tagalog 10. Three were surfaced dead, while the rest were never found.

Victims of the dictatorship were vindicated when they won in 1992 the now historic class suit against Ferdinand Marcos. The Hawaii Appellate Court found Marcos guilty of human rights violations against 9,539 victims, among them some 1,000 who were disappeared. Yet, the military perpetrators, least of all Marcos, were not punished for their crimes. Once enacted into law, the anti-enforced disappearance bill will allow us to hold responsible the perpetrators of enforced disappearances.

The bill provides no prescription period for the crime, unless the victim has surfaced. The perpetrators of involuntary disappearance could be prosecuted no matter the length of time that has passed since the incident. Moreover, the bill recognizes command responsibility, which means a superior officer would also be culpable for the actions of his subordinates.

However, we are still struggling to claim justice with yet another bill pending in the Senate. The Marcos victims’ compensation bill still has to be finalized by that body. Just like the anti-enforced disappearance bill, this is long overdue.

Selda has consistently urged the Aquino government to expedite the Marcos victims’ compensation bill. President Aquino should push for the immediate enactment of this bill into law. Its implementation, together with the anti-enforced disappearance bill, will add to our efforts at gaining justice for our loved ones, especially those who were disappeared during martial law.

—Bonifacio Ilagan, vice chairperson, Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (Selda) 2/F Erythrina Bldg., 1 Maaralin corner Matatag Street, Central District, Diliman, Quezon City