VICTIMS of the 2017 Marawi Siege may now get compensation from the government.
This after President Duterte signed Republic Act 11696 or the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Act of 2022 last April 13, though this was announced only on Wednesday.
Under the new law, the Marawi Compensation Board (MCB) will be created to handle the claims of qualified applicants.
It will be composed of three members of the Philippine Bar, preferably Maranao lawyers, with at least 5 years of law practice; two representatives of civil society organizations, at least one of whom is either a Sharia lawyer or a Muslim traditional leader; one licensed physician; one certified public accountant; one educator; and one licensed civil engineer.
It will convene 30 days after the President appoints its members.
To qualify to file claims with the MCB, one must be: “any person who is a lawful owner of a residential, cultural, commercial structure and other properties” which were destroyed or damaged during the Marawi Siege in designated Main Affected Areas (MAA) and Other Affected Areas (OAA).
In case the qualified claimants have died or legally presumed dead, their heir could seek compensation from the MCB.
Their compensation will be whichever is the lower amount of either the fair market value of the destroyed or damaged structure, or the value of its total per storey, equivalent to an amount to be determined in the implementing rules and regulation of RA 11696.
Filing period
Qualified applicants may file their claims with the MCB within one year after it has been duly organized.
Beyond that period, the claimants would be deemed to have waived their right to seek compensation.
Fraudulent claims will be referred by the MCB to the appropriate office for prosecution.
The MCB will come out with the Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR) of RA 11696 sixty days after its effectiveness.
The Board must complete its work within 5 years from the effectiveness of the IRR before it becomes functus officio.
RA 11696 will take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two newspapers of general circulation.
Welcome precedent
International Alert Philippines (IAP), an international non-government organization (NGO) monitoring the reconstruction efforts in Marawi, welcomed the passage of RA 11696.
It noted the new legislation will serve as precedent for the government in giving compensation to future victims of war and destruction.
“We celebrate this milestone with the IDPs (internally displaced persons) and victims of the Marawi war for this hard-earned victory,” IAP said.
For her part, Saripada Pacasum Jr., member of Marawi Reconstruction Conflict Watch and convenor of Lanao del Sur Early Response Network, said the new law will fast-track the recovery of Marawi City.
“This is one of the most important laws passed under the Duterte Administration. With the president’s signing of this law, he delivered justice and equal priority to the Maranaos who have lost and sacrificed so much in the past five years,” Pacasum said.
The skirmishes between government military forces and the Maute and Abu Sayyaf Group in Marawi City from June to October 2017 displaced 369,196 individuals, based on data from the United Nations.
It also left most parts of the city in Lanao Del Sur in ruins.