Senate OKs on 2nd reading bill compensating Marawi siege victims

The Senate on Wednesday approved on second reading the bill providing monetary compensation for the loss or destruction of the properties of the victims of the Marawi siege.

Senate Bill 2420 aims to provide compensation or reparation to the internally-displaced persons (IDPs) of the 2017 Marawi siege whose damaged or demolished property and possessions cannot be recovered.

Under the measure, any owner of a residential, cultural, commercial structures, and other properties in Marawi’s most affected areas (MAA) or other affected areas (OAA) who met the requirements is entitled to receive a tax-free compensation from the government.

The legal heirs as provided for in the Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines or the Civil Code of the Philippines shall receive the compensation of the deceased owner.

The compensation under the proposed law will be considered as “a complete satisfaction of the loss or destruction of the properties sustained by the owner” unless Congress provides additional monetary compensation to the said owners.

Under Section 6 of the bill, the initial implementation of the law will be charged against the current year’s appropriations of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund for the Marawi Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction Program (MRRRP).

During the period of interpellations, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon asked clarification on the appropriations of the measure.

Senator Sonny Angara, who sponsored the measure, said Section 6 of the bill just provides reference to the General Appropriations Bill and there is no specific appropriation for the compensation board.

“But there is an item for Marawi compensation under the Disaster Fund, if I am not mistaken. That has been there since a few years ago. For 2023, of course, we will work on that going forward,” Angara said.

SB 2420 also creates an independent and quasi-judicial body to be known as Marawi Compensation Board.

This will be composed of nine members— three of them should be a member of the Philippine Bar, preferably Maranao lawyers, who have been practicing law for at least five years, one licensed physician, one certified public accountant, one educator, and one licensed civil engineer.

The chairman of the board and the eight other members will be appointed by the President.

They will be in charge of receiving, processing, and investigating applications for claims; issuance subpoenas; conducting independent administrative proceedings and resolve disputes over claims, approve with finality all eligible claims, among others.

A joint congressional oversight committee shall likewise be created under the measure.

This panel will be composed of five members each from the Senate and the House of Representatives. At least two members from each House shall come from the minority bloc.

After three years from the effectivity of the law, the board shall conduct a mandatory review and submit a status report to Congress and the Commission on Audit.

In September 2021, the Lower House approved on third and final reading the counterpart measure of SB 2420.—AOL, GMA News