Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 3985

Introduced by Representative GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO.

AN ACT
TO PROVIDE COMPENSATION, REIMBURSEMENT FOR HOSPITALIZATION
EXPENSES, AND OTHER BENEFITS, TO CIVILIANS CAUGHT IN THE
CROSSFIRE BETWEEN REBELS AND THE MILITARY, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article II, Section 3 of the 1987 Constitution states that “Civilian authority is
at all times supreme over military’. The Armed Forces of the Philippines is the
protector of the people and the State. Its primordial duty is to secure the
sovereignty of the State and the integrity of the national territory.

Section 4 and 5 of the same article likewise provides that “The prime duty of
the government is to serve and protect the people” and that the maintenance of
peace and order, the protection of life, liberty and property, and promotion of the
general welfare are essential for the employment by all the people of the blessings
of democracy.

While said provisions have been incorporated in the Constitution to secure,
among others, the safety of the people, it is quite lamentable that this objective has
not been attained and remains elusive until the present.

Amidst numerous incidents of killings and inevitable displacement of many
Filipinos due to military counter insurgency-efforts, there is an urgent need to
alleviate the sufferings of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire brought about by
the continued armed conflict between the military and rebel forces.

To uphold what is being espoused in our Constitution that civilian authority is
supreme over the military, this humble proposal is one mode of easing the
hardships endured by civilians who get caught in the middle and exposed to
imminent danger due to the continued fighting between our military and rebel
forces.

In view of the foregoing, we are therefore urging our colleagues to ensure

the immediate passage of this bill.
Wa
GLORIA MAGAPAGAL ARROYO

2" District, Pampanga


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3585

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT
TO PROVIDE COMPENSATION, REIMBURSEMENT FOR HOSPITALIZATION
EXPENSES, AND OTHER BENEFITS, TO CIVILIANS CAUGHT IN THE
CROSSFIRE BETWEEN REBELS AND THE MILITARY, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known and cited as the “Civilian
Compensation Act of 2016.”

SECTION 2. Civilian Compensation Fund. - The Civilian Compensation
Fund ii hereby established which shall be administered by the Commission Fund is
hereby referred to as the Commission

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act, the term:

a. The “military” refers to the Armed Forces of the Philippines;

b. A “rebel” is a person who opposes or take up arms against the
government or its duly constituted authorities

c. A “civilian” is a resident of the country who is neither a rebel nor a
member of the military.
SECTION 4. Any civilian, as defined in Section 4 hereof, who is killed or

injured in the crossfire between rebels and the military shall be entitled to:

a. An indemnity in the amount not exceeding Thirty Thousand Pesos
(P30,000,00), in case of death;


b. a reimbursement for the necessary expenses incurred for hospitalization,
medical treatment, loss of wage, and the like, in case of injury, Provided,
that in case said civilian is compelled by the military to leave his or her
residence prior to a military campaign, the Commission shall provide
emergency housing, food medical benefits to said civilian, Provided
further, that in case said civilian incurs material loss, the Commission
shall indemnify the former the necessary amount to cover said loss.

SECTION 5. Any civilian, his or her family, or any other person dependent
upon said civilian for support may file a claim with the Commission: Provided, that
the claim must be filed within six (6) months after the date of the death, injury,
compulsory abandonment of one’s residence, or occurrence of other similar events
that resulted to material loss.

SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Commission shall
promulgate the rules and regulation necessary to effectively implement this Act.

SECTION 7. Appropriations. - The amount of Five Million Pesos
(P5,000,000.00) is hereby authorized from the funds of the National Treasury not
otherwise appropriated. Thereafter, such amount shall from part of the regular
budget of the Committee.

SECTION 8. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act shall be
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining part or provisions not otherwise
affected shall remain in force and effect.

SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders,
issuances, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisionsof
this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 10. Effectively. — This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days
following completion of its publication in the Official Gazette and in at least two (2)
newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,