Claims board to reach out to rights victims in provinces

MANILA, Philippines - Few human rights victims of martial law have come out to claim compensation.

To address this, the Human Rights Victims Claims Board (HRVCB) will hold a caravan in the provinces to get closer to claimants.

Chairman Lina Sarmiento said most human rights victims are either already old or have not enough money to spend to file their claims.

“So it is really better if we bring the filing to their location in the provinces,” she said.

Sarmiento said they have so far received less than 500 applications for compensation from human rights victims of martial law.

The figure is very minimal, she added.

Sarmiento said the HRVCB started accepting applications for compensation last May 12 or two  weeks ago.

Less than 500 applicants have come forward compared to the projected number of legitimate claimants of more than 9,000, she added.

Sarmiento said applicants must immediately apply since the deadline for filing is on Nov. 10. 

“Hopefully, the launching of caravan for application processing in the provinces would help to get application of all legitimate claimants,” she said.

“Instead of coming to our office in Quezon City, we will be the ones who will go to them to facilitate the filing of applications.”

Sarmiento said the caravan may be held from June to August, depending on the outcome of the program.

The board is expected to approve today the dates and  places of the caravan, she added.

They intend to deploy two to three teams in one particular province, Sarmiento said.

Based on   records of   approved applicants, some have come from the US, Caraga region, Samar provinces, Batangas, Mindanao, Bicol and many parts of Metro Manila.

Application forms and information materials are also available at   regional offices of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

They can be downloaded from the HRVCB website: www.hrvclaimsboard.gov.ph

Sarmiento said the number of days for the caravan depends on the number of human rights victim in an area.

Proper coordination will be made with local governments and CHR regional offices to maximize   information dissemination, she added.

Sarmiento called on claimants to prepare the necessary documents in filing claims.

Relatives of deceased human rights victims have to present proof of their marriage or blood relationship, she added.

Under Republic Act 10368,the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013, failure of victims to file claims during the 6-month period will be considered a waiver.