Faster processing of financial aid to human rights victims sought

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) should speed up the grant of financial assistance to human rights victims, according to the Commission on Audit (COA).

In a 2014 report released yesterday, the COA said the slow processing of claims deprived 361 victims of human rights violations in the Zamboanga peninsula of timely financial aid.

State auditors said the human rights victims should have received P1.352 million on Dec. 31, 2014.

“The agency did not process the financial assistance claims… within the timeframe set in CHR Resolution A-96-060 dated Sept. 10, 1996,” the COA report stated.

State auditors said the CHR resolution provides financial assistance to human rights victims or their heirs. Any person under custodial investigation who received cruel or inhuman punishment to extort confession or for any other purpose shall likewise be entitled to financial assistance.

The CHR policy provides for the processing of financial assistance for 44 days and 42 minutes for regional offices and 83 days and 42 minutes for the CHR en banc.

For rehabilitation purposes, the CHR rules said the processing should be not later than 11 days, six hours and 37 minutes.

The management of the regional office of the CHR blamed the delay in fund transfers from the central office. It also cited the lack of time and manpower for the investigation of the victims, photocopying of documents to support the claims and preparation of disbursement vouchers and checks.