Fresh twist in fight for Marcos millions

[emad]

John Aglionby
Monday February 7, 2005
The Guardian

The Philippines yesterday promised to compensate 9,500 human rights victims of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos with £241m of the assets recovered from the former ruler's Swiss bank accounts.

President Gloria Arroyo's spokesman, Ignacio Bunye, told local media the money would be disbursed as soon as a law was passed permitting the move. Under current legislation all Marcos funds are earmarked for agrarian projects

"The president recognises that the human rights victims should be indemnified," Mr Bunye told a radio station in the capital, Manila. "That is why the executive department has earmarked the money and the only thing needed is for Congress to pass the legislation."

It is not clear when this might happen since attempts to pass the necessary law have been stymied for years.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1407197,00.html