By Liezelle Soriano
MANILA — The Department of Justice Board of Claims (DOJ BOC) and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) forged a partnership to speech up assistance for human rights victims.
DOJ represented by the Undersecretary-in-Charge for BOC Deo Marco and CHR Chairman Richard Palpal-latoc signed the Memorandum on Agreement to safeguard the human rights victims.
Under the MOA, the DOJ is obliged to accept and evaluate referrals for claims from the CHR, provide a docketing system for the cases referred, conduct training, seminars and focus group discussions for the CHR about the Victims Compensation Program.
On the other hand, the CHR is mandated to inform their clients about the existence of the referral system, assist and refer qualified applicants, appoint a focal person, accept referrals from the DOJ for claimants not falling under RA No. 7309 and create an inventory of past cases which may still qualify to the Victims Compensation Program.
“Compensating victims of injustice is a form of mandatory justice accorded by the Rule of Law which no rule or formality should hinder in any way,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Boying Remulla said.
(el Amigo/MNM)
