SELDA submits nominees to the Human Rights Victims Claims Board; vows to see to it that R.A. 10368 will be implemented for the interests of the victims
Press StatementMarch 14, 2013
SELDA or the Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto, the organization that initiated the class action suit against former dictator Marcos, sent its list of nominees to the Office of the President on March 12, 2013, for possible inclusion to the Human
Rights Victims Claims Board that will evaluate and process the claims of the human rights violations victims who will file their claim under RA 10368 or the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013.
According to the law, SELDA is one of the five human rights organizations, although not limited to the five named organizations,
that “may submit nominations” for membership in the Human Rights Victims Claims Board that will evaluate and process the application for claims of the martial law victims under the law. SELDA secretary general Angie Ipong asserts, “We are very honored and proud that our nominees possess the qualifications of the members of the Claims Board spelled out in the law; thus, 1) must be of known probity, competence and integrity; 2) must have a deep and thorough understanding and knowledge of human rights and involvement in efforts against human rights violations committed during the regime of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos; 3) must have a clear and adequate understanding and commitment to human rights protection, promotion and advocacy. There is also a provision that stipulates that at least three (3) of the nine (9) must be members of the Philippine Bar who have been engaged in the practice of law for at least (10) years.”
SELDA’s nominees for the Human Rights Victims Claims Board are the following:
1. Ms. Amaryllis “Marie” Hilao-Enriquez – Marie, Chairperson of both SELDA and Karapatan, is a survivor of martial law. From her student days at the University of the Philippines up to the present, she has remained a staunch human rights defender. Marie, as a prominent leader of SELDA, led the organization of former political prisoners in the filing and proceedings of the class action suit against the former dictator Marcos in the US Federal Court in Honolulu, Hawaii. She is the daughter of one of the original plaintiffs in the Hawaii class suit. She likewise led the victims and their kin in the active lobby work for the enactment into law of the compensation bill that would indemnify and recognize the victims of martial law. She is a tireless human rights worker in engaging the various mechanisms of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.
2. Mr. Bonifacio P. Ilagan – Boni, a multi-awarded writer, was twice arrested (1974 and 1994), tortured, and imprisoned. Boni’s political activism is expressed, among others, through his writings. He is currently the Vice Chairperson of SELDA, one of the mandated organizations under RA 10368 to submit nominations for the Human Rights Claims Board.
3. Former Representative Liza L. Maza – As a member of the House of Representatives for nine years, Liza introduced and advocated for the legislation of a law recognizing and indemnifying victims of Martial Law. Ms. Maza, together with representatives Satur Ocampo and the late Crispin Beltran, filed the bill for victims of martial law, with due consultations with the victims, their relatives and lawyers.
4. Prof. Judy Taguiwalo – Judy teaches at the University of thePhilippines. She heads the Department of Women and Development Studies of the College of Social Work and Community Development. She was a member of the UP Board of Regents from 2009-2010. She is the recipient of an outstanding alumna award from the UP Alumni Association. She was detained twice, in 1973 and in 1984, where she gave birth inside prison. She is a board member of SELDA.
5. Dr. Edelina P. De la Paz – Dr. Delen de la Paz is Associate Professor in the Dept. of Family Medicine at the UP College of Medicine. She is also the Vice Chief of the Social Medicine Unit at the same university. Dr. Delen de la Paz has been involved in various health and human rights related institutions and non-government organizations. She is a respected alumna of the UP College of Medicine.
6. Atty. Romeo D. Candazo – a former political detainee, Atty.Ome Candazo is one of the founding members of SELDA in 1985. He is also a public servant having occupied various executive and legislative positions in the government; he served as a representative of the City of Marikina. He is a journalist, an educator and lecturer at the UP, Ateneo and Maryknoll College. But, first and foremost, Atty. Candazo is a human rights lawyer.
7. Atty. Kit S. Enriquez – Atty. Kit is the President of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers-Cebu Chapter and a member of the Board of Directors of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Cebu from 2005-2011. Atty. Kit was arrested twice during martial law (1972 and 1975) and was heavily tortured by the military.
8. Atty. Dominador A. Lagare, Sr. – hails from General Santos in Mindanao and has been a practicing lawyer since 1973. He was appointed OIC Mayor of General Santos during President Cory Aquino’s time. He has also served General Santos as city councilor for four terms. Atty. Lagare has been doing pro bono work for victims of human rights violations in the General Santos and Saranggani provinces. He teaches labor laws and negotiable instruments at the Mindanao State University.
With such sterling names and achievements of our nominees, we are confident that they possess the qualifications required by law and if appointed, the personalities we are submitting for nomintations will do honor and work for the interests of the victims of martial law and see to it that this law will redound to the vicitms’ benefits,” SELDA secretary general Angie Ipong concluded. She also said that “SELDA’s nominees have been the vocal as well as silent workers behind the campaign for justice for martial law vicitms, components of which are the recognition of the struggle of the vicitims against the dictatorship and the reparation for the sufferings the victims experienced. These are finally realized under the law. We, at SELDA, vow to see to the law’s implementation. ###
Reference: Eliza Tita Lubi, SELDA board member, 434-2837
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