Senate panel seeks to extend availability of funds for martial law victims

The Senate justice and human rights committee has endorsed the extension of the availability of funds for victims of human rights violations during the martial law under the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

In a committee report 495 filed Oct. 10, panel chair Senator Richard Gordon asked his colleagues to approve without amendments Senate Joint Resolution No. 13 filed by Senators Francis Escudero and Ralph Recto extending the availability of funds for the indemnification of human rights victims until December 2019.

The House of Representatives approved on final reading its counterpart House Joint Resolution 26 in August this year. Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate’s version seeks to extend the availability of the reparation fund until December 31, 2019.

READ: House OKs bill extending validity of funds for Marcos’ human rights victims on 2nd reading

Meanwhile, Escudero’s resolution seeks to “extend the maintenance, availability, and release of billions of funds deposited at the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP)” for all legitimate claimants under Republic Act 10368 or the Human Rights Victims and Recognition Act of 2013.

Escudero noted that as of May 11, 2018, the Human Rights Victims Claims Board (HRVCB) had approved and recognized d11,103 out of more than 75,000 applicants.

As of June 28, the HRVCB account with the LBP reported a balance of P792.629 million, which Escudero said can only be maintained until August 11 before it would revert back to the Bureau of Treasury.

However, the senator said there were reports from several approved claimants’ relatives that they were not able to encash the checks even with the issuance of Special Powers of Attorney.

The joint resolution also mandates the Commission on Audit, the LBP and Bureau of Treasury should coordinate with the Commission on Human Rights to ensure the distribution of valid claims. /ee

READ: Final list of Marcos victims qualified for funds released