Sen. Erwin Tulfo has filed a bill seeking to increase compensation for Filipinos wrongfully imprisoned, saying the current provisions under Republic Act 7309 are outdated and insufficient.
“While no amount of money can ever recover the time lost by victims of wrongful imprisonment, we are pushing for a more humane process to make justice more accessible, compassionate, and fair,” Tulfo said.
Under the proposed measure, compensation would increase from P1,000 to P10,000 per month of detention.
In special cases, damages would rise from P10,000 to P50,000, or be adjusted to cover actual costs such as medical expenses, lost income, or other proven damages.
The bill also seeks to expand definitions for “detained” and “imprisoned” to address legal gaps, and to extend the period for filing claims from six months to one year after release or exoneration.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Tulfo seeks higher compensation for wrongfully imprisoned Filipinos”
