A Senate bill seeks to increase the compensation for individuals wrongfully convicted, illegally detained, or victimized by violent crimes.
Senate Bill No. 2920 seeks to amend Republic Act No. 7309, which established the Board of Claims under the Department of Justice in 1992, aiming to provide more substantial support for victims of wrongful conviction, illegal detention, and violent crimes by significantly increasing compensation amounts and improving claim accessibility.
“We live in a country where no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws,” Pimentel stressed.
The measure proposes a ten-fold increase in compensation for unjust imprisonment or detention, raising the monthly amount from ₱1,000 to ₱10,000.
SB 2920 also raises the maximum financial aid for victims of violent crimes to ₱50,000 or more, depending on the expenses incurred for medical treatment, hospitalization, and other damages.
To ensure accessibility, the bill extends the filing period for claims from six months to one year after the release or injury date.
The bill also introduces remote filing of claims, subject to regulations to be outlined by the Board of Claims, to modernize the process and reach more beneficiaries.
Pimentel noted that the measure is about “liberality, generosity, and fairness”, emphasizing the importance of providing justice to those who have suffered unjustly under the legal system.
“More than ever, the Filipino people must be reminded that we are a country of laws and not of men. We are neither a kingdom ruled by a tyrannical monarch, nor a penal colony that ignores the humanity of those under our custody,” he furthered.
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