TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
S. No.
)
SENATE
837
25 AUG-4 ?5 -02
REC21V .
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7309, "AN ACT CREATING A BOARD OF 
CLAIMS UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF UNJUST 
IMPRISONMENT OR DETENTION AND VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIMES AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES"
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Republic Act No. 7309 created the Board of Claims under the Department of 
Justice (DOJ) which shall receive, evaluate and process applications for claims for 
monetary compensation of victims of unjust imprisonment or detention and violent 
crimes with the objective to recompense to a certain extent life damages and suffering 
brought about by lawlessness and grave injustice.
Under the law, victims of unjust imprisonment or detention may be 
compensated with a meager amount of up to P1,000 per month of imprisonment or 
detention for crimes they did not commit. Meanwhile for other cases (i.e. for victims 
of violent crimes like rape and other offenses committed with malice which resulted in 
death or serious physical and/or psychological injuries, permanent incapacity or 
disability, etc.), the Board may approve a claim not exceeding P10,000 necessary to 
reimburse expenses incurred for hospitalization, medical treatment, loss of wage, and 
other expenses directly related to the injury.


According to the Annual Report of the DOJ for 2022, the Board processed 1,372 
applications where 899 were granted financial assistance, and released a total of 
P9.393 million to beneficiaries.1
Since the law was enacted in 1992 or more than thirty years later, no 
amendments were introduced; hence, it is high time to adjust the prescribed amounts 
to a more realistic and acceptable levels, recognizing the high inflation rate over the 
said timeframe.
This representation is refiling this measure which was reported out by the 
Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights and was already approved on Third 
and Final Reading during the 19th Congress.
Aside from the increase in compensation, this bill is proposing the extension of 
the period of filing claims application from six (6) months to one (1) year, and allowing 
the filing of such claims remotely to enhance accessibility and efficiency.
The immediate passage of this legislation is sought.
NGGQY EJERCITO ESTRADA
1 Accessed on March 20, 2025 through
https://www.doi.eov.ph/files/2022/Annual%20Report%202022/DOJ%20ANNUAL%20REPORT%202022%20NO
V29%20CORRECTED%20FINAL%20SPREAD-compressed.pdf


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE
S. No. 837
25 AUG-4 P5 :02
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7309, "AN ACT CREATING A BOARD OF 
CLAIMS UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF UNJUST 
IMPRISONMENT OR DETENTION AND VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIMES AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES"
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 7309, otherwise known as "An Act
2 
Creating a Board of Claims Under the Department of Justice for Victims of Unjust
3 
Imprisonment or Detention and Victims of Violent Crimes and for Other Purposes", is
4 
hereby amended to read as follows:
5 
"Sec. 3. Who may File Claims. -The following may file
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claims for compensation before the Board:
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"(a) [any person who was unjustly accused, convicted
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and imprisoned by subsequently rclcased-by-virtuc-of a
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judgment of acquittal;]
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"[(b)] Any person who was unjustly detained and
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released without being charged;
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"(B) ANY PERSON WHO WAS UNJUSTLY
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ACCUSED, CHARGED, AND 
DETAINED BY
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SUBSEQUENTLY RELEASED BY THE TRIAL COURT
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WITH A FINDING THAT NO CRIME WAS IN FACT
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COMMITTED OR THAT THE ACCUSED COULD NOT


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HAVE COMMITTED OR DID NOT COMMIT THE
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IMPUTED CRIME;
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"(C) ANY PERSON WHO WAS UNJUSTLY
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ACCUSED, CONVICTED, AND IMPRISONED BUT
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SUBSEQUENTLY RELEASED BY VIRTUE OF A
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JUDGMENT OF ACQUITTAL FINDING THAT NO CRIME
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WAS IN FACT COMMITTED OR THAT THE ACCUSED
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COULD NOT HAVE COMMITTED OR DID NOT COMMIT
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THE IMPUTED CRIME;
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”[(€}] (D) any victim of arbitrary or illegal detention by
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the authorities as defined in the Revised Penal Code under a
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final judgment of the court; and
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”[(^] (E) any person who is a victim of violent crimes.
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For purposes of this Act, violent crimes shall include rape and
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shall likewise refer to offenses committed with malice which
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resulted in death or serious physical and/or psychological
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injuries, permanent incapacity or disability, insanity, abortion,
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serious trauma, or committed with torture, cruelty or
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barbarity."
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Sec. 2. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 7309 is hereby amended to read as
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foilows:
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"Sec. 4. Award Ceiling. - For victims of unjust
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imprisonment or detention, the compensation shall be based
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on the number of months of imprisonment or detention and
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every fraction thereof shail be considered one month;
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Provided, however, That in no case shall such compensation
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exceed [Qnc thousand pesos (P1,000.00)] TEN THOUSAND
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PESOS (P10,000.00) per month.
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"In ail other cases, the maximum amount for which the
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Board may approve a claim shall not exceed [Ten thousand
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pesos-----(P10,000.00)] FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS
32 
(P50,000.00) or the amount necessary to reimburse the


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claimant the expenses incurred for hospitalization, medical 
treatment, loss of wage, loss of support, or other expenses 
directly related to injury, whichever is lower. This is without 
prejudice to the right of the claimant to seek other remedies 
under existing laws."
Sec. 3. Section 5 of Republic Act No. 7309 is hereby amended to read as 
follows:
"Sec. 5. When to File Claims. - Any person entitled to 
compensation under this Act must within [six (6) months]
ONE (1) YEAR after being released from imprisonment or 
detention, or from the date the victim suffered damage or 
injury file his/HER claim with the [Bepartment] BOARD OF 
CLAIMS, otherwise, he/SHE is deemed to have waived the 
same. Except as provided for in this Act, no waiver of claim 
whatsoever is valid."
Sec. 4. A new Section 5-A is hereby inserted after Section 5 of Republic Act 
No. 7309, to read as follows:
"SEC. 5-A. REMOTE FILING OF CLAIMS. - ANY 
PERSON ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION UNDER THIS 
ACT MAT FILE HIS/HER CLAIM REMOTELY, SUBJECT 
TO RULES AND REGULATIONS WHICH SHALL BE 
PROMULGATED BY THE BOARD WITH THE GOAL OF 
STREAMLINING REQUIREMENTS TO ENHANCE 
ACCESSIBILITY AND EFFICIENCY."
Sec. 5. Section 6 of Republic Act No. 7309 is hereby amended to read as
follows:
"Sec. 6. Filing of Claims by Heirs. - In case of death or 
incapacity of any person entitled to any award under this Act, 
the claim may be filed by his/HER heirs, in the following 
order: by his/HER surviving spouse, children, [natural] 
parents, brother and/or sister."


1 
Sec. 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations,
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rules and regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with
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this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 7. Effectivity. -This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following
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the completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
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circulation.
Approved,