The Human Rights Victims’ Claim Board (HRVCB) has already approved the release of partial monetary reparation to 4,000 martial-law victims, remarkably speeding up its process as part of its commitment to President Duterte’s goal to expedite the delivery of compensation.
In a news briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday, Presidential Spokesman Ernesto C. Abella said the claims of martial-law victims are now being processed. “The HRVCB informed the Office of the President of their accomplishments and latest development on processing and release of the claims since their [January] meeting with Duterte.”
Abella reported that the agency has submitted Board Resolution 1, Series of 2017, to the Office of the Executive Secretary, approving the preliminary list of 4,000 eligible claimants and the release of partial monetary reparation. The list is comprised of 2,661 conclusively presumed victims and 1,339 new applicants.
The distribution, meanwhile, is set to be made by the second quarter of the year, according to an earlier news statement by the HRVCB. “The processing of monetary reparation of the first 4,000 eligible claims is being done simultaneously with the evaluation and deliberation of the remaining claims,” Lina C. Sarmiento, chairman of the board, was quoted saying.
On the other hand, the Department of Budget and Management has acknowledged receipt of the letter of the HRVCB requesting for the release of P300 million from the Bureau of the Treasury intended for the partial monetary reparation. Also, a memorandum of agreement between the board and Land Bank of the Philippines is presently being reached pertaining to the use of the bank’s cash-card facility.
As of present, the HRVCB has processed about 31,000 claims from a total of 75,730 applications of martial-law victims. The board is given until May 12, 2018, to fulfill its mandate.