Providing compensation to victims of human rights violations is one of the mandates of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR). Granting financial assistance is an acknowledgement from the government that a wrong has been done. The amount given is based on relevant laws and present guidelines of CHR and, in a way, envisioned to help encourage survivors pursue legal cases in court towards attaining justice.
The Commission on Audit (COA) in its CY 2020 findings cited that 174 out of the 291 approved beneficiaries of the Financial and Community Assistance have yet to receive the said support. CHR has already heeded COA’s observation and actions from relevant CHR offices have already been carried out.
At the same time, it also important to give better context to this COA observation so as to address malicious assertions regarding the delay in the release of financial assistance. This begins with understanding that CHR may investigate alleged cases of human rights violations upon receipt of complaint or through motu proprio investigations (those carried out based on our own initiative).
Later on, a resolution will be issued by the investigating CHR office after an independent probe on the case. Such document will include recommended actions and, if a human rights violation has been established, may also contain a recommendation for the grant of financial assistance.
In cases when complainants are identified, the release of the compensation may be easily done. However, in a motu proprio investigation, oftentimes the challenge lies in determining the whereabouts of the victims who have either changed their contact information and/or moved to another residence without informing CHR out of fear for their own safety.
However, even if complainants/victims were already identified, there are documents that are more challenging for the beneficiaries to provide due to the restrictions posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. These are documents also required from CHR to secure from the grantees in justifying the validity of the release of the said public funds.
We assure the public that corrective measures are already being implemented for situations within our control, including our investigators doing their level best in securing the permanent contact details of the victims and, if possible, asking in advance the documentary requirements necessary in the processing of the said financial assistance. Processes and fund programming have being refined, as also advised by COA, to increase the number of beneficiaries to fully attain the purpose of the grants and ensure that government humanitarian services are timely received by those concerned.
We stress that the fund for the unreleased financial assistance is also intact and just waiting to be released once requirements have been met. As we continue to reach out, we also welcome beneficiaries to come to our offices so they may receive the said assistance.
CHR continues to commit to the honest, sound, and prudent use of public funds—attuned with our pledge to deliver Serbisyong May Malasakit, our brand of public service anchored on compassion and empathy in pursuit of upholding the rights of all.
In the larger view, this challenge faced by CHR in releasing financial assistance equally speaks of the climate of impunity and fear that we need to confront and address, not just so more victims and survivors may avail of financial assistance, but also for them to have the courage to demand accountability, without fear of reprisal, from those who have brazenly violated and disregarded human rights. ###