Freeze order on rights compensation a ‘gross injustice,’ says wife of political prisoner

The wife of political prisoner Vicente Ladlad has made a plea to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno to lift the freeze order on his rights compensation accounts, which she said was grossly unjust.

“This latest government action of freezing his legal compensation is a gross injustice that compounds the dark history of martial law and victimizes the victim anew with greater suffering,” said Fides Lim, Ladlad’s wife, in a letter she handed to Diokno’s office early this week.

Lim reiterated her 72-year-old husband “is not a criminal or terrorist,” and should not be deprived of the compensation which he uses to treat his ailments.

The Anti-Terrorism Council has designated Ladlad and 18 other individuals as “terrorists,” based on the newly-amended Anti-Terrorism Act.

The designation last April 2021 authorizes the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), which Diokno heads, to freeze their assets.

Lim, who is also spokesperson for the group Kapatid, composed of families and friends of political prisoners, said the freeze order should not cover the amount being received by Ladlad as one of the victims of martial law. 

Republic Act No. 10368 or the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013 mandated the compensation of martial law victims as approved by the Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board (HRVCB).

According to Lim, Ladlad’s two accounts – an ATM Visa Debit Card and the attached savings deposit –were ordered frozen following his designation as a “terrorist” on May 13.

The bank accounts were opened in May 2018 when the HRVCB required approved eligible claimants to open a savings account at their nearest Land Bank branch to facilitate the deposit of the monetary compensation.

“Any investigation would easily reveal the official origin of those deposits and why it is wrongful, in fact immoral and reprehensible, to subject them to any freeze order as this would only perpetuate the injustice and tragedy that those accounts seek to atone for and indemnify,” Lim said.

“Clearly, the funds are not from money laundering or terrorism financing but resulted from Republic Act No. 10368, otherwise known as the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013,” she added.

Lim said she hopes Diokno would act on her appeal and lift the freeze order  to “rectify this injustice” and assure “humanitarian support” for her husband’s medical needs.

“I hope Prof. Diokno will have the fairness of mind to heed my appeal as he belongs to the same generation that experienced the brutal repression of martial law and he can’t ignore the sacrifices recognized by the very law that created this indemnification fund,” she said.

“Vic is now 72, and he needs his compensation funds as his health rapidly deteriorates under political imprisonment,” Lim said, adding that Ladlad was diagnosed last December 2020 with Asthma-Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Overlap Syndrome.—LDF, GMA News