Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board: Submit compliance documents ASAP

The following is a press release from the Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board (HRVCB). 

The HRVCB has already begun the table-top evaluation of all claims for reparation and recognition filed with the office until last November 10, 2014. “During this phase of the reparation and recognition process, our legal officers and paralegals would sort all claims and segregate those with complete and valid documents for adjudication by the three (3) Divisions of the Board,” Chairperson Sarmiento said.

We now remind all claimants, who have met the abovementioned deadline, to submit their compliance or “to-follow” documents as soon as possible. Our Central Office at UP Diliman and other HRVCB desks in the Regional Offices of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) are open Mondays to Fridays, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, to accept these documents. Claimants may also send their documents through mail or courier to the Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board, E. Virata Hall, E. Jacinto St., UP Complex, Diliman, Quezon City 1101.

Compliance documents should be accompanied by a faithful machine copy of the Acknowledgment Receipt given by our intake personnel. The Acknowledgment Receipt contains the Claim Docket Number, Name of the Human Rights Violations Victims (HRVV), Name of the Applicant, Date of Filing, and the picture and signature of the applicant.

After the determination by the Divisions, the Board en banc shall approve the list of all eligible claimants which shall be published once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines. Any opposition to any of the new eligible claimants shall be entertained only if filed within fifteen (15) calendar days from the date of the last publication of the list. On the other hand, an aggrieved claimant or oppositor will have a period of ten (10) calendar days from the receipt of the assailed Resolution to file their appeal with the Board en banc whose decision shall be final and executory.

Within thirty (30) days after the Board has approved with finality each eligible claim, and after due publication, the monetary award shall become effective. Only then may the Board distribute monetary compensation to eligible claimants seeking reparation.

Nevertheless, persons declared as HRVVs, whether they sought reparation or not, shall be recognized by enshrining their names in a Roll of Human Rights Victims to be prepared by the Board.

On the issue of fraudulent or fictitious claims, the Board Secretariat, in coordination with law enforcement agencies, will also conduct a thorough investigation pursuant to Section 25 of Republic Act No. 10368.

As we celebrate the International Human Rights Day today, the HRVCB wishes to highlight the importance of “truth-telling” as an indispensable feature of the reparation and recognition process. With the joint support of the government and the public, the HRVCB would fulfill its mandate to bring justice to legitimate human rights victims! – Rappler.com/Press Release