Palace backs extension of claims board to compensate Marcos’ Martial Law victims

Malacañang on Monday expressed support for the proposed extension of the Human Rights Victims' Claims Board (HRVCB) to ensure the full reparation of victims of human rights abuses under Marcos' Martial Law.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque floated the option of an executive order that will extend the validity and availability of the funds for the rights victims with the Land Bank of the Philippines.

"Makikipagpulong ako po mismo as Presidential Adviser on Human Rights doon sa opisyales [ng] Human Rights Claims Board. At siguro po gagawin ko itong prayoridad ngayong linggong ito, dahil ang problema po diyan, natapos na po iyong buhay ng Human Rights Claims Board, parang ayaw ng i-honor ng Landbank iyong mga signatures," Roque told reporters in Davao Occidental.

"Baka kinakailangan pong gumawa ng Executive Order para lamang ma-extend ang buhay just for the purpose of the banks’ honoring the signature of the designated signatories of the Claims Board," he added.

Roque's reaction came after Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate filed House Joint Resolution 24 on July 19 which aims to extend the validity of the funds and distribution of the same to legitimate claimants until December 2019.

Only 11,103 legitimate claimants out of more than 75,000 applicants had been approved by the HRCVB as of May 11, 2018, according to Zarate.

“However, the HRVCB was only able to completely resolve the 6,737 appeals on May 6, 2018, or six days before the law’s sunset. The checks issued by the HRVCB for the human rights victims have validity of only three months,” he said.

Under Republic Act 10766, the Board only had until May 12, 2018 to finish processing the compensation due to Martial Law victims sourced from the P10 billion recovered by the government from the ill-gotten wealth of the family of the late former President Ferdinand Marcos.

Zarate said as of June 28, 2018, the HRVCB account with Lankbank stood at P792.628 million. This amount shall be maintained until August 11, 2018, after which the balance will be reverted to the Bureau of Treasury.

“Although the Commission on Human Rights and HRVCB created a transition team to assist the claimants in the remaining months, many human rights victims are concerned that there might not be enough time to process issues or matters relating to the distribution of monetary claims until August 11, 2018,” he said. —NB, GMA News