Bill hikes gov’t compensation for violent crime victims

Quezon City Rep. Marvin Rillo wants to increase fivefold the reparations that victims of violent crime, including rape survivors, may claim from the government under a special program managed by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

As proposed by Rillo under House Bill No. 5029, victims of violent felonies such as rape and murder, or their heirs, may collect up to P50,000 each from DOJ’s Board of Claims.

Rillo’s bill seeks to amend the 1992 law – Republic Act No. 7309 – that created the Victims Compensation Program (VCP).

The 30-year-old law provides no more than P10,000 to each “victim of violent crime” who files a claim.

“The P10,000 top limit per claim has remained the same for the last three decades despite massive erosion due to rampant inflation,” Rillo pointed out.

“Congress must now upgrade the ceiling to reflect the changing times,” Rillo said.

VCP payments are in addition to whatever damages may be awarded to victims in a criminal or civil action against the offender.

Citing Philippine National Police statistics, Rillo said a total of 5,177 rape cases were reported nationwide in 2022, along with 4,205 murder cases and 977 homicide cases.

The VCP compensates “victims of rape and crimes committed with malice which resulted in death or serious physical and/or psychological injuries, permanent incapacity or disability, insanity, abortion, serious trauma, or committed with torture, cruelty or barbarity.”

It also pays victims of enforced or involuntary disappearance under Republic Act No. 10353.

The reparations are meant to help reimburse expenses incurred by claimants for hospitalization, medical treatment, loss of wage, loss of support and other costs directly related to injury.

Rillo’s bill also seeks to raise to P100,000 per year of incarceration the maximum amount of compensation that victims of unjust imprisonment or arbitrary and illegal detention may claim from the VCP.