Erwin Tulfo seeks higher compensation for falsely accused individuals

Neophyte Senator Erwin Tulfo is pushing for an increase in compensation for victims of wrongful detention and imprisonment from the current P1,000 to P10,000, as granted by the Department of Justice (DOJ)’s Board of Claims.

Tulfo filed a bill to amend the 33-year-old Republic Act 7309 — known as the Act Creating a Board of Claims under the Department of Justice for Victims of Unjust Imprisonment or Detention and Victims of Violent Crimes — as part of his third batch of proposed legislation for the 20th Congress.

The proposed measure also raises the maximum compensation in special cases from P10,000 to P50,000, or the amount covering the claimant’s expenses for hospitalization, medical treatment, lost wages, loss of support, or other related injuries, whichever is higher.

“While no amount of money can repay the time lost from these victims of wrongful detention, we are pushing for a more humane process to make justice more accessible, compassionate, and equitable,” Tulfo said.

The bill seeks to amend Republic Act 7309, a law passed 33 years ago, and is part of the senator’s third batch of legislative proposals for the 20th Congress.

In addition to increasing compensation, the measure expands coverage by distinguishing between those who were “detained” and “imprisoned” but later found innocent of the crimes they were accused of.

It also extends the filing period for claims from six months to one year after release and allows victims to file claims through representatives.

If enacted, Tulfo stressed the bill will benefit people like 81-year-old Prudencio Calubid Jr., who was recently released by the Court of Appeals after being wrongly identified as a New People’s Army (NPA) leader.

The compensation bill complements Tulfo’s priority legislation, granting medical parole to elderly and terminally ill prisoners.