HOUSE BUDGET DELIBERATIONS

Solon says P36M allotted for commission honoring martial law victims

A total of P36 million was allocated for the Human Rights Violation Victims Memorial Commission, an agency which was created to remember and honor the victims of martial law.

This was disclosed by Zamboanga del Norte 1st District Representative Romeo Jalosjos as he sponsored the proposed P867.251-million budget of the Commission on Human Rights on Friday.

The Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013 created the said commission which aims to work with other agencies "to educate young people about the abuses committed by the Marcos regime and the heroism by those who opposed it."

During the plenary deliberations, Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate emphasized the importance of the commission to "immortalize" martial law victims.

"Ang objective po ng pagtayo ng Human Rights Violation Victims Memorial Commission ay para po hindi makalimutan sa ating kasaysayan, ma-imortalize ang pakikibaka, ang pakikipaglaban ng mga Pilipino sa panahon ng diktadura at hindi rin malimutan ng mga susunod na henerasyon ang naging ambag ng maraming martir at mga bayani sa paglaban sa diktadurang Marcos," Zarate said.

(The objective of this commission is to immortalize the sacrifices and heroism of Filipinos who fight against Marcos dictatorship. The commission also aims to impart to the next generation the contributions of martyrs during the martial law.)

He also pointed out that there are still thousands of human rights victims during the martial law period who are not yet recognized and even compensated.

Fighting historical revisionism

Meanwhile, Jalosjos also mentioned that the CHR is involved in the education and promotion of programs to address historical revisionism in connection with martial law.

"The CHR is now in talks with the DepEd (Department of Education) for the inculcation of human rights lessons of martial law in the curriculum of the DepEd together with the Memorial Commission. DepEd is a member of the Memorial Commission," he said.

A summit will also be held to discuss the proposed inclusion of the martial law period in the country's school curriculum, Jalosjos said.—AOL, GMA News