House seen to give martial law victims claims board longer life
CONGRESS is working to extend by two years the life of the claims board for human rights violations during martial law to give it more time to process the claims of all the victims hoping to be recognized and compensated.
On Jan. 27, the House of Representatives approved on second reading House Bill No. 6412 granting a two-year extension to the Human Rights Victims Claims Board (HRVCB), which is set to lapse on May 12 this year.
The 287-strong lower chamber is expected to approve the measure on final reading before Congress goes on recess on Feb. 5.
In 2015, the HRVCB received 28,409 applications during the second round of filing from April 7 to May 30, adding to the 47,128 applications received in the first round.
Thus, there are 75,537 claims still to be investigated and adjudicated for reparation and recognition. The legitimacy of each claim shall be determined before a victim is awarded compensation from a P10-billion reparation fund.
Aside from the reparation, the names of the victims shall be enshrined in the Roll of Victims of Human Rights Violations in acknowledgment of their heroism and sacrifice.
Under Republic Act No. 10368, the HRVCB has until May 12, 2016, to finish validating the applications and award financial compensation to the legitimate claimants. The law aims to provide recognition and reparation, both monetary and nonmonetary, to all the victims of human rights violations during the martial law regime.
The authors of House Bill No. 6412, Representatives Barry Gutierrez and Angelina Katoh of Akbayan, and Christopher Belmonte of Quezon City, said it was “almost impossible” for the HRCVB to finish adjudicating all the claims in time with its current personnel and resources.
“Each of the claims needs to be thoroughly deliberated upon in order to judiciously resolve the legitimate claims and to investigate and dispose of the fraudulent ones. Only then will the HRVCB be able to discharge its mandate, and give a measure of justice to all deserving claimants,” the authors said.
