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Joma Sison, leftist leaders to receive martial law compensation

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Christian Esguerra, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/news/01/25/jose-maria-sison-afp-012517.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Jose Maria Sison. <cite>AFP/File</cite></div></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - Top communist leaders led by Jose Maria Sison are set to receive reparation from the government as human rights victims during Martial Law, in a move that could help boost ongoing peace talks.</p><p>Human rights remains one of the core issues of their 49-year-old armed struggle despite a landmark agreement on the matter between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) in 1998.</p><p>The government&#x27;s recognition and reparation of human rights victims will &quot;speed up&quot; formal peace negotiations, said activist Bonifacio Ilagan.</p><p>&quot;Morally, this will boost our confidence, this will serve as an inspiration that we are on the right track in pursuing justice,&quot; he told ABS-CBN News. </p><div><strong>REPARATION</strong></div><p>Sison, founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines, is claimant No. 2650 in the initial list of <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/08/17/human-rights-board-names-4000-eligible-for-martial-law-claims">4,000 names</a> identified by the Human Rights Victims&#x27; Claims Board as eligible for compensation.</p><p>Also included are Fidel Agcaoili, who heads the NDFP peace panel, and consultants such as Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, Vicente Ladlad, Randall Echanis, and Rafael Baylosis.</p><p><a href="http://www.gov.ph/2013/02/25/republic-act-no-10368">Reparation</a> is guaranteed under a landmark law which recognized in 2013 &quot;the heroism and sacrifices&quot; of human rights victims under Ferdinand Marcos.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/news/04/10/etta-rosales.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Former Akbayan party-list representative and Commission on Human Rights chairperson Etta Rosales. <cite>Christian Esguerra, ABS-CBN News</cite></div></figcaption></figure></div><p>Former Akbayan Rep. Loretta Ann Rosales, an author of a version of the reparation bill, said the law would help human rights victims like her in their &quot;reconciliation and healing process.&quot;</p><p>&quot;&#x27;Pag ang gobyerno mismo kinilala nya yung mga sinaktan nya na mga mamamayan and on a national scale sasabihin nya, inaamin nya at ibinibigay nya ito, dyan mararamdaman mo yung healing process,&quot; she told ABS-CBN News.</p><p>(When the government acknowledges that it hurt its people, and on a national scale, you can feel the healing process.)</p><p>Rosales said she had forgiven state agents who tortured and sexually abused her in the 1970s.</p><p>WATCH: Human rights advocate Etta Rosales remembers martial law [http://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/09/20/16/human-rights-advocate-etta-rosales-remembers-martial-law]</p><div><strong>FORGIVENESS</strong></div><p>Ilagan came across one of his torturers by chance some three years after he was released from detention.</p><p>The activist said the man walked up to him casually and said he was no longer with the military.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/news/04/10/bonifacio-ilagan.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Bonifacio Ilagan, vice chairman of the Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (Selda). <cite>Christian Esguerra, ABS-CBN News</cite></div></figcaption></figure></div><p>&quot;Ang nakakagulat sa bahagi ko hindi ako nagalit. Hindi ako nakaramdam ng uupakan ko to dahil nagkasalubong kami,&quot; he said. </p><p>(What shocked me was I was not angry. I did not feel the urge to beat him up.)</p><p>&quot;Kasi in the final analysis, hindi naman talaga sila ang may kasalanan. Instrumento lang sila nung mga nag-utos sa kanila... at ang nagpakana ng buong martial law ay si Ferdinand Marcos.&quot;</p><p>(In the final analysis, they were not at fault. They were just instruments and the brains behind martial law was Ferdinand Marcos.)</p><p>But Ilagan said he could not be as forgiving to those behind the disappearance of his sister Rizalina.</p><p>&quot;Kasi ako nabuhay. Nasa akin yung pangalan nung sangkot sa pagpatay at pag gahasa sa aking kapatid--24 names,&quot; he said.</p><p>(I survived. I have the names of those involved in the killing and rape of my sister -- 24 times.)</p><p>&quot;Sa aking palagay, hindi simpleng pag nagkita kami, magkakamayan at magpapatawaran.&quot;</p><p>(When we see each other, a handshake will not be enough to forgive them.)</p>

<p>MANILA - Top communist leaders led by Jose Maria Sison are set to receive reparation from the government as human rights victims during Martial Law, in a move that could help boost ongoing peace talks.</p>

MANILA - Top communist leaders led by Jose Maria Sison are set to receive reparation from the government as human rights victims during Martial Law, in a move that could help boost ongoing peace talks.

Joma Sison, leftist leaders to receive martial law compensation

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Joma Sison, leftist leaders to receive martial law compensation

Christian Esguerra,

ABS-CBN News

Published Apr 10, 2017 05:31 PM PHT

Read More:

Joma Sison

communist leaders

peace talks

martial law

reparation

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