Jose Maria Sison, wife get P1.2 million each in human rights-abuse reparations

By Arjay L. Balinbin, Reporter
Malacañang is “delighted” over the release of reparations for human-rights abuse victims during martial law, including Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison and his wife, Julie de Lima.
“Talaga namang naging biktima sila ng martial law. At nagagalak naman po ang Palasyo na lahat ng mga biktima ay nakakatanggap na ng mga tseke nila ngayon, dahil importante po iyong konsepto ng reparation, bigyan sila ng kompensasyon, dahil nalabag ang kanilang karapatan noong panahon ng martial law,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr. said in press briefing on Tuesday, May 22.
(It is true that they were victims of martial law. And the Palace is delighted that victims can now accept their checks, because the concept of reparation is important. They should be compensated because their rights were violated during the martial-law era.)
In his televised interview with ABS-CBN in The Netherlands on Tuesday, Mr. Sison said he and his wife, Julie, received “P1.2 million each” from the government.
Mr. Sison and his wife are among the first batch of 4,000 eligible claimants for partial compensation, according to the Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board (HRVCB).
The monetary compensation for martial law victims is guaranteed under Republic Act No. 10368, an act approved by then president Benigno S.C. Aquino III in 2013, providing for reparation and recognition of victims of human-rights violations during the Marcos dictatorship.
Mr. Roque also reassured Mr. Sison that steps will be taken to ensure his safety if he returns home for the renewed peace negotiations.
Mr. Sison had said earlier he is ready to come home once he sees there is “substantial progress” in the peace process between his camp and the government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP).