Palace: EO may be needed to extend human rights claims board

MANILA, Philippines — An executive order may be needed to extend the operation of the Human Rights Victims Claims Board (HRVCB), Malacañang said yesterday as hundreds of millions in funds for martial law victims remain undistributed.

SELDA, an organization of political prisoners and former political detainees, has called for the extension of the validity and availability of funds for the compensation of martial law victims.

At least P800 million worth of funds remain undistributed as many approved claimants were unable to encash their checks, according to Trinidad Herrera-Repuno, chair of SELDA.

The group said the HRVCB’s account with the Land Bank of the Philippines would be maintained until Aug. 11 only, after which the funds would be reverted to the National Treasury.

SELDA, which stands for Samahan ng Ex-detainee Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto, said it would be a disservice and injustice if the martial law victims are deprived of compensation.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the beneficiaries might have a hard time claiming the funds now that the distribution period is about to end. 

“The life of the human rights claims board has ended. It appears that Landbank does not want to honor the signatures anymore. Perhaps there is a need to issue a new executive order to extend the claims board and for the banks to honor the signatures of the signatories,” Roque said at a press briefing in Davao Occidental. 

Roque, who is also presidential adviser on human rights, vowed to discuss the matter with the claims board this week. 

The distribution of compensation for victims of human rights violations during the Marcos regime was mandated by a law signed by former president Benigno Aquino III in 2013.

The law required the government to allot P10 billion for the reparation of martial law victims and the claims board to finish its work within two years.  

Some lawmakers and supporters of human rights violations have urged the government to ensure that no one would be left out in the distribution of the funds.

“After so many hurdles before being able to receive reparation and recognition, we do not want to leave anyone behind, especially the legitimate victims of martial law. We should ensure that all funds will be given to the victims and their kin,” Repuno said.

She said she is worried that many martial law victims from different parts of the country might not be able to resolve certain issues before the deadline.

“It is our responsibility, even when many of us have received reparation, to call on the government to do something to address this,” she said.

Repuno said the claims board has ceased its existence, which is why they are calling on the House and the Senate to support a joint resolution seeking to extend the validity of funds and give more time to resolve concerns.

Before the claims board ceased operations in May, it posted on its website a list of 11,103 approved claimants.

On July 19, Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate filed Joint Resolution No. 24, seeking to extend the fund’s validity and availability and authorizing the Commission on Human Rights to distribute it to the claimants until December 2019.

SELDA is asking the House and the Senate to support the joint resolution. –  With Rhodina Villanueva