Palace welcomes US court's OK of payment to 'Marcos victims'

Malacañang welcomed on Friday a US federal judge's approval of the distribution of $7.5 million to thousands of victims of torture, execution and abduction under the late president Ferdinand Marcos' two-decade rule. In a press briefing, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said it was "high time" for the victims of violations of human rights to be provided compensation. "Maganda itong development dahil sa tinagal-tagal pong paghihintay ng mga victim, the human rights victims noong administrasyon ni former President Marcos (This is a good development because this is long awaited by human rights victims in the administration of former president Marcos)," she said. "It’s high time that this happened," she added. On Thursday, US District Judge Manuel Real approved the distribution of $7.5 million to the victims of human rights violation during the Marcos regime. Each of the 7,526 eligible members of the class-action lawsuit will receive $1,000 under the approved plan. The distribution process, which may take about a month, is expected to begin in mid-February, according to an Associated Press report. The AP report said the class-action lawsuit was filed in Hawaii because Marcos fled to Honolulu after he was ousted from power through a "people power" revolution in February 1986. The bloodless revolt ushered into the presidency Corazon "Cory" Aquino, wife of Marcos's political rival Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., who was assassinated on Aug. 21 1983. President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III is the only son of Cory and Ninoy. — LBG, GMANews.TV