Martial law victims in MM to get partial compensation

MANILA, Philippines - The Human Rights Victims Claims Board (HRVCB) will start distributing today the partial compensation of those in the initial list of martial law victims eligible to receive reparation from the government.

HRVCB chair Lina Sarmiento said a short program will be held this afternoon at the board’s main office at the University of the Philippines in Quezon City.

“We will start with Metro Manila, see how it is and then the provinces will be next,” Sarmiento told The STAR during the anniversary celebration of the Commission on Human Rights on Thursday.

She said a representative from the Landbank of the Philippines will explain to the victims or their relatives how to use the cash cards that will be distributed to them.

Last March, the claims board released the initial list of 4,000 victims who are eligible to receive compensation.

Under present estimates, victims will receive between P25,000 to P250,000 depending on the points that they received during the assessment of their claims.

However, Sarmiento said they would only release half of the approved compensation as the amount may change depending on how the remaining claims are assessed.

“There are 4,000 claims that are approved for release. But it doesn’t mean that we only approved 4,000,” Sarmiento said, noting that they have finished assessing about 38,000 out of the more than 75,000 claims submitted to the board.

She noted that the amount may increase if the remaining claims get low points, or it may decrease if the rest are qualified to get high compensation.

Almost P300 million will be represented as partial compensation for the initial 4,000 approved claims, said Sarmiento.

The claims board was allotted P10 billion as budget for reparation to the victims of the Martial Law regime. Part of the fund is also used by the HRVCB for operations.

The HRVCB chief said they intend to finish assessing the claims next year.

“The law provided for a sunset and the sunset is May 12, 2018. So by May 12, 2018, the board will cease to exist,” she said.