House OKs bill extending life of martial law victims claims board

THE House of Representatives has approved on third reading a bill extending by two years the martial law human rights violations claims board.

In a 127-7 vote, House Bill 6412 was approved on Monday night.

The bill seeks to extend the life of the Human Rights Violations Claims Board (HRCVB) until May 12, 2018.

The board is set to lapse on May 12 this year.

Under Republic Act No. 10368, the HRVCB has until May 12, 2016, to finish validating the applications of the 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 bill is authored by Akbayan representatives Barry Gutierrez and Angelina Katoh and Quezon City Rep. Jose Christopher Belmonte.

The bill is entitled “An Act extending the life of the Human Rights Victims Claims Board, amending for this purpose Section 29 of Republic Act No. 10368, entitled, ‘An Act providing for Reparation and Recognition of Victims of Human Rights violations during the Marcos regime, documentation of said violations, appropriating funds therefor and for other purposes.’”

In 2015, the HRVCB received 28,409 applications during the second round of filing from April 7 to May 30, on top of the 47,128 applications received in the first round.

This makes the total claims to be investigated and adjudicated at 75,537 ahead of its expiration.