The Senate has approved Senate Bill No. 2920 on its third and final reading, aiming to provide justice and higher compensation for Filipinos wrongfully convicted or illegally detained.
Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, sponsor of the bill, said it seeks to strengthen support for victims of wrongful conviction or unjust detention by amending Republic Act No. 7309, which established the Board of Claims under the Department of Justice (DOJ).
The bill covers individuals who were unjustly convicted and later acquitted, those detained without charges, or victims of arbitrary or illegal detention. It also includes victims of violent crimes.
Pimentel emphasized the need to modernize the 1992 law to reflect principles of fairness and generosity. Key provisions of the bill include:
-Raising compensation for wrongful imprisonment or detention from P1,000 to P10,000 per month
-Increasing the maximum compensation from P10,000 to P50,000 for expenses like hospitalization, lost wages, and medical treatment
-Extending the claim filing period from six months to one year after release or injury; and
-Allowing remote claim filing, subject to Board of Claims regulations.
Pimentel underscored the importance of upholding the rule of law: “So 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 their custody,” he said in his sponsorship speech.
The senator also urged support for the bill, emphasizing the need for justice and fairness for all Filipinos.IMT
