Still no recognition of HR violations during martial law

The heirs of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos still would not recognize at least 75,000 human rights violations committed during martial law 30 years after his ouster by the 1986 people power revolution.

The Marcos family, through lawyer Hyacinth Rafael-Antonio, supported the administration in defending before the Supreme Court President Duterte’s decision to allow the interment of the dictator at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City.

In oral arguments last Wednesday, Antonio backed the argument of Solicitor General Jose Calida that the Marcos burial at the heroes’ cemetery would result in reconciliation and national healing.

During interpellation, Associate Justice Marvic Leonen asked if there has been any acknowledgment from the Marcos family of human rights violations committed under the regime of their father.

“There was no acknowledgment, your honor,” Antonio said.

The lawyer also told the high court that she is not aware of any plan of the Marcos family to issue an apology on this issue.

Leonen pointed out that acknowledgment from the Marcoses of the crimes committed during martial law would be necessary before the victims could forgive and the country could move on from such atrocities.

Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno supported Leonen in clarifying the issue of acknowledgment by the Marcos family on human rights violations.

Sereno quizzed Calida where the P10 billion for reparation to the human rights victims will be sourced, with the latter saying it comes from the recovered money in the Swiss accounts of the Marcoses.

“The money stolen from the Filipino people will be paid to victims, where is the acknowledgment, the confession? They’re being paid by the taxpayers,” Sereno pointed out.