DPA/Manila
The Philippine Congress approved a bill yesterday that compensates thousands of individuals victimised during the 20-year rule of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
The Senate and the House of Representatives ratified the final version of the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act, which allocates 10bn pesos ($250mn) for victim compensation.
The money would come from funds and assets recovered from the Marcos family’s ill-gotten wealth.
Legislators said they expect President Benigno Aquino III to sign the law before the anniversary of the four-day People Power Revolution that toppled the Marcos dictatorship in February 1986.
Marcos placed the Philippines under martial law for nine years from September 21, 1972. Thousands of Filipinos, mostly accused of being enemies of the state, were arrested, tortured, killed and disappeared.