The Senate approved a measure to provide justice and higher compensation for Filipinos wrongfully convicted or illegally detained.
Senators passed Senate Bill 2920 amending Republic Act 7309, sponsored by Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III, on its third and final reading.
“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 their custody,” Pimentel said in his sponsorship speech.
Republic Act 7309 established the Board of Claims under the Department of Justice (DOJ) in 1992 to implement the Victims’ Compensation Program. The proposed amendments aim to modernize the law and expand support for victims of wrongful imprisonment, arbitrary detention, and violent crimes.
Key provisions of the bill include increasing monthly compensation for unjust imprisonment or detention from P1,000 to P10,000. It also raises the maximum compensation for other cases from P10,000 to P50,000 or an amount sufficient to reimburse medical expenses, lost wages, and related costs.
The bill extends the filing period for claims from six months to one year after release or injury. Additionally, it allows claimants to file remotely under rules set by the Board of Claims.
“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 said, urging his colleagues and the public to support the bill as a step toward achieving justice for all.