50,000 HR victims applied for reparation, recognition

MANILA, Philippines - The Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board (HRVCB) is set to evaluate and investigate close to 50,000 applications by human rights victims for reparation and recognition submitted before and during the Nov. 10 deadline.

The six-month application period is provided under Republic Act 10368 or the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013.

HRVCB chair Lina Sarmiento said their final count showed there were 46,985 applications after the board closed acceptance of claims for reparation and recognition by martial law human rights victims midnight of Monday in all their offices nationwide.

“We will now go to the next stage of the reparation process – the evaluation and investigation stage to determine the legitimate claimants and the appropriate points to be awarded each victim,” Sarmiento said.

The HRVCB, a quasi-judicial body, closed intake operations in their main office located at the University of the Philippines-Diliman campus and its 14 desks located in regional offices of the Commission on Human Rights.

There are nine members of the HRVCB who are assigned to three divisions. Each division of the claims board is composed of two members and one division chairman who will decide on the applications and determine monetary and non-monetary rewards.

In view of the possible extension of the period for filing of claims, the claims board also advised potential applicants who were not able to file during the six-month period to prepare their applications for the next round of intake operations, after the final approval of extension by Congress.

“They would just have to be ready with the requirements so that all they have to do is to submit the necessary documents,” Sarmiento said.

The House has approved on third reading the Joint Resolution for Extension of the Filing Period.

The Senate, on the other hand, is set to approve the same measure on third and final reading upon resumption of session on Nov. 17.

Sarmiento added the investigation team would also be checking on reports that there were “fixers” or some lawyers advising non-claimants to file application.

Under Republic Act No. 10368, the HRVCB was created to receive, evaluate, process and investigate, among others, applications for recognition and reparation of victims of human rights violations during martial law.