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Board: Only 3,600 of 20,000 Martial Law victims filed compensation claims so far


Nearly two months after the start of the application, some 3,600 Martial Law victims have filed their compensation claims before the Human Rights Victims' Claims Board (HRVCB)—less than a quarter of the expected 20,000 claimants.

Despite this, HRVCB chairperson Lina Sarmiento said "they are not lagging behind."

"As of yesterday, more or less 3,600 claimants na 'yung nag-claim," Sarmiento, a retired police general told GMA News Online by phone on Thursday. "Naniniwala ako that we are not lagging behind."

A total of P10 billion from the alleged ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses will be used to pay some 20,000 Martial Law victims in accordance with Republic Act 10368, or the Human Right Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013.

The six-month claims application period started on May 12, 2014 and will end on November 10.

Sarmiento said most of those who filed their applications did so in the caravan that the claims board brought to the provinces. So far, it has visited the cities of Angeles, Lucena, Calbayog, Tarlac, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod and Cotabato.

Difficult process

Meanwhile, Karapatan chairperson Marie Hilao-Enriquez, a human rights victim, scored the HRVCB for the alleged difficult process they have to undergo in order to file their claim.

"The claims board asks for too many requirements from the victims, many of which were outrightly unnecessary. Biktima na nga, pinahihirapan pa. Para kaming pinadaan sa butas ng karayom," she said.

She added that the victims are being asked to produce National Statistics Office-authenticated birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, original release papers, among others.

"How could they ask for legal papers when they were massacred, abducted, arrested and tortured in huge numbers?" Enriquez asked.

Victims duped

More than strict requirements, unscrupulous individuals have also entered the picture, Sarmiento admitted.

"We have received reports that some people solicit fees para tulungan 'yung mga victims. They are collecting P600 for the application fee and another P600 as processing fees," she said.

She cited that one person has deceived about 200 people and earned as much as P240,000.

"We want to protect the share of the legitimate claimants," Sarmiento said. "We are consolidating these reports of fraudulent and then submit it to the [Philippine National Police]."

Sarmiento reminded applicants that no fees should be collected from them, and that application forms and the processing are for free.

Sarmiento also said they have partnered with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the League of Municipalities in the Philippines for legal assistance and information dissemination, respectively.

Appointments

Sarmiento's appointment to head the HRVCB is being questioned by Enriquez, who cited Sarmiento's past job as a police official.

"'Yung in-appoint nila [ay] 'yung mga nagpahirap sa amin noon," she said.

Enriquez also questioned the appointment of  lawyer Grace Gandelyn Lara as Sarmiento's secretary.

The Karapatan chairperson showed a copy of a letter supposedly from Immigration chief Siegfred Mison informing her that Lara was dismissed from the Bureau of Immigration for "gross neglect of duty."

Since the appointment issue was "internal," Sarmiento refused to comment.  —KBK, GMA News

Tags: martiallaw
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