Human Rights Victims' Claims Board warns against fixers, fraudsters 

The Human Rights Victims' Claims Board (HRVCB) on Thursday reminded the victims of abuses during Martial Law to be wary of fixers who will promise them "access to the board or any of its members" in exchange for money.

 

“We would like to inform victims and survivors of abuses during Martial Law that no fees are required to file claims for recognition and reparations,” board chairperson Lina Castillo-Sarmiento said in a press statement.

 

Sarmiento, a former police official, issued the statement after receiving reports of people posing as personnel of the board and charging claimants to process their papers.

 

“We would also like to inform everyone that the Claims Board has not designated any individual or group to act as its agent in relating to, or coordinating with any legitimate claimant,” Sarmiento said.

 

Sarmiento meanwhile warned people against making or facilitating fraudulent claims. “The law imposes stiff penalties, which include imprisonment of 8 to 10 years, among others, on anyone who makes or facilitates a spurious or fraudulent claim. Anyone who conspired to facilitate any fraudulent claim, shall also be prosecuted,” she said.

 

Sarmiento said the HRVCB is still in the process of organizing the board and secretariat that will claims for reparation.

 

Once that is done, the board will then conduct public consultations in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao on the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Martial Law Victims’ Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013.

 

Legitimate claimants will be given six months to file their claims with the board. The filing period will start once the IRR becomes effective, which is 15 days after publication in newspapers and broadcast in radio and television, the HRVCB said. — Elizabeth Marcelo/JDS, GMA News