Decades after Marcos dictatorship collapsed, Filipino victims to get compensation for abuses

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Decades after Marcos dictatorship collapsed, Filipino victims to get compensation for abuses
By Associated Press,
Updated: Monday, January 28, 2:07 AM

MANILA, Philippines — Almost four decades after he was arrested and tortured and his sister disappeared into a maze of Philippine police cells and military houses, playwright Bonifacio Ilagan is finally seeing his suffering officially recognized.

A writer for an underground communist newspaper, Ilagan and thousands like him were rounded up by dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ security forces after he placed the Philippines under martial law in 1972. Detentions, beatings, harassment and killings of the regime’s opponents continued until Marcos was toppled in 1986.

Even though democracy was restored, it would take another 27 years for the Philippine Congress to vote on a bill awarding compensation and recognition to martial law victims. The ratification is expected Tuesday or Wednesday, said Rep. Neri Colmenares, one of the bill’s authors.

“More than the monetary compensation, the bill represents the only formal, written document that martial law violated the human rights of Filipinos and that there were courageous people who fought the dictatorship,” said a statement from SELDA, an organization of former political prisoners that campaigned for the passage of the bill.

Ilagan’s story is more of a rule than exception among leftist activists of his generation.


Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/decades-after-collapse-of-marcos-dictatorship-filipino-victims-to-get-compensation-for-abuses/2013/01/28/595f3000-691f-11e2-9a0b-db931670f35d_story.html

[davidpdx]

1. I'm glad hear that the victims will finally get justice

I have a friend who lives there and have asked about the years Marcos was president. Though the person was young at the time they have some memories of what it was like. It was interesting to hear the perspective of someone who lived there.

[Coyotl]

2. Will they get their millions in gold back? Or the secret donations to Reagan.

Will the US taxpayers get their money back, money given to Marcos then funneled into Republican campaigns?

[pampango]

3. Not to nit pick but Marcos stole billions not millions in gold and other forms of corruption.

The answers to your other questions are unfortunately - No. His widow, Imelda, is still an elected member of the House of Representatives and currently ranks as the second richest politician in the Philippines (#1 is the boxer Manny Pacquiao).