Victims of the Marcos dictatorship led by Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensiyon at Aresto (Selda) urged President Aquino to recall the appointment of former police general Lina Sarmiento as chair of the government board that will process Martial Law human rights claims.

Protesting at Mendiola Bridge near the Malacanang Palace, they denounced the appointment of Sarmiento, who they called a “relic of the dreaded Philippine Constabulary” during Martial Law.

“After prolonging the formation of the board for almost a year, the Aquino government made a historical affront to the victims by appointing a former member of the Philippine Constabulary, the forerunner of the PNP, as head of the (Human Rights Victims) Claims Board,” Selda said in a statement.

The group stressed that they do not question the credentials of Sarmiento as a former PC officer. Rather, they said the retired general lacks a track record in promoting human rights and knowledge about the plight and struggles of Martial Law victims during and after the dark days of the Marcos dictatorship.

Selda also noted that the PC, together with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, were part of the main apparatuses of the Marcos dictatorship in implementing the worst of human rights abuses under Martial Law.

“It is the PC and the AFP that dispersed rallies, ‘salvaged,’ abducted, tortured, arrested and detained thousands of Martial Law activists. Her presence in the Claims Board does not command respect nor confidence in the hearts of the Martial Law victims,” stated Selda.

By appointing Sarmiento, Aquino virtually reversed the state’s admission of the atrocities and repression against the Filipino people, which the law’s objective, the group said.

“Instead, it promotes into position those who violated the people’s human rights. This is no different from the Pres. Aquino’s appointment of military officials to higher positions under his presidency,” Selda added.

Beyond qualifications

It added that Aquino disregarded the provision of the law that underlines qualifications of the panels’ members.

Chairperson Etta Rosales of the Commission on Human Rights and Justice Sec. Leila de Lima had earlier defended Sarmiento’s appointment, saying that she is qualified for the job.

But Selda reiterated their position that the appointment of Sarmiento goes beyond the issue of qualifications.

Two former human rights lawyers and anti-Marcos oppositionists, former senators Joker Arroyo and Rene Saguisag, also voiced their concerns on Sarmiento’s appointment.

Saguisag said the Palace must disclose Sarmiento’s involvement in human rights violations during Martial Law, if any. “The Palace cannot say ‘secret.’ Sarmiento does not qualify for her appointment, from where we sit,” said Saguisag.

“The appointment of a general from the uniformed services to preside as chair over the adjudication of the claims for reparation and recognition of the human rights victims is a stinging repudiation of our 15 years of struggle for freedom and democracy, which culminated in the national incandescence at Edsa,” Arroyo said, in an open letter.

Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares, himself a victim of Martial Law, also said that a former police general cannot even be appointed as a member of the claims board, much less be its chairperson.

People’s claims board

Shut out from the government’s claims board, Selda has now organized its own, calling it the People’s Claims Board (PCB).

“This will be the primary body to stand for the victims of Martial Law,”the group said.

Selda added that PCB will ensure that all who suffered atrocities during the Marcos dictatorship shall be recognized and indemnified and will ensure that RA 10368 will be implemented. PCB will be composed of individuals who actively participated in defense of human rights, and were victims themselves.

It includes former Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo; Selda chairperson Marie Hilao-Enriquez; Selda vice-chairperson BonifacioIlagan; former Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza; University of the Philippines Prof. Judy Taguiwalo; Dr. Edelina dela Paz; human rights lawyers Kit Enriquez, Marcos Risonar and Dominador Lagare, Sr.

“It will formulate an Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) which will be submitted to the HRVCB as basis of the law’s implementation,” the group added.

According to Selda, the PCB will continue to assert that, based on conclusive presumption, the 2,013 Martial Law victims who were delisted but were part of the 9,539-member class suit against the Marcoses filed in Hawaii in 1986, as well as others who will step forward to make themselves recognized, will be rightfully recognized and indemnified.

Martial law victims in the regions of Southern Mindanao, Bicol and Panay launched also similar protest actions to express their grievances on the formation of the Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board.