Koko lauds Duterte order to compensate Martial Law victims

Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel praised President Rodrigo Duterte for issuing an order on Thursday, January 19, to immediately release the initial compensation of Martial Law victims.

Pimentel, the son of Martial Law victim and former Senate President Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel, Jr., said that the move showed President Duterte's compassion for victims of injustice.

"President Duterte shows that he will always be on the side of those who are wronged, and he will always fight for the helpless", Pimentel said.

The order was issued during a meeting with members of the Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto, or SELDA.

SELDA is an organization of political prisoners and former political detainees.

According to SELDA, there are more than 75,000 victims of human rights abuses under the Marcos dictatorship.

The Human Rights Victims Claims Board (HRVCB) was established by RA 10368 in 2013 to compensate these victims. However, SELDA said that no one has received any compensation from the government since HRVCB was established.

Pimentel is the President of PDP Laban, a party that was founded by his father at the height of Martial Law.

PDP Laban was one of the largest opposition political parties at the time, and played a key role in the 1986 elections that ultimately led to the ouster of President Marcos.

President Duterte is the Chairman of PDP Laban, and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez serves as its Secretary General.