Gov't told to include Moros in compensation package

MANILA, Philippines - A youth group  on Thursday urged the government to  include the Moros in the compensation package for those who suffered during the martial law.

Arsad Solaiman, chairperson of the Youth for Bangsamoro Genuine Empowerment, said Moros who suffered during the martial law cannot be excluded in the compensation deal.

“It is highly unfair to exclude them in the compensation deal when they also suffered much from the bloody hands of the dictatorship,” Solaiman said in a statement posted on the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) website.

The group issued the statement as Congress is deliberating on a bill seeking to compensate victims of abuses during the martial rule under the Marcos administration.

A bicameral committee is now finalizing the provisions of the bill.

Under the measure, the compensation will come from the P10 billion of the Marcoses’ ill-gotten wealth that Swiss authorities have transferred to the Philippines.

The amount that the victims would receive would depend on the severity and type of abuse they suffered.

Solaiman said an average of three persons were killed or wounded per military operations conducted by state troops from 1972 to 1979.

He said these operations took place in Maguindanao, North Cotabato, Sulu, Basilan, and Lanao del Norte.

“How about the civilian victims of massacres perpetrated by government soldiers, will they be counted also as victims and entitled to compensations?” Solaiman said.

He cited the massacres in Manili, Palembang, Patikul, Pata Island and Kauswagan, where Moros were murdered.

The youth group urged Congress to work with the MILF to jointly determine the numbers and identities of the victims and they should be compensated. – Alexis Romero