Republic Act No. 6399
The victims of the “Battle of Mendiola” were recognized in an act requiring compensation “to be appropriated, out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of five hundred thousand pesos, to be paid as compensation for the death of, or injuries sustained by, persons in the course or as a result of a public demonstration, rally, protest march, assembly or mass action…”
From the Supreme Court archives:
H. No. 229 / 68 OG No. 7, 1316 (February 14, 1972)
[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6399, September 30, 1971 ]
AN ACT APPROPRIATING NINETY THOUSAND PESOS AS COMPENSATION TO THE HEIRS OF MASS DEMONSTRATION VICTIMS RICARDO ALCANTARA, FERNANDO CATABAY, FELICISIMO S. ROLDAN, BERNARDO BAUSA, JESUS MEJIA AND LEOPOLDO INELDA, ALL DECEASED, AND AUTHORIZING THE APPROPRIATION OF FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS AS COMPENSATION FOR DEATHS AND INJURIES SUSTAINED IN A PUBLIC DEMONSTRATION, RALLY, PROTEST MARCH, ASSEMBLY OR MASS ACTION.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. The sum of ninety thousand pesos is hereby appropriated, out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to be paid as compensation to the heirs of mass demonstration victims Ricardo Alcantara, Fernando Catabay, Felicisimo S. Roldan, Bernardo Bausa, Jesus Mejia and Leopoldo Inelda who were killed during the mass demonstration of students on January thirty, nineteen hundred and seventy. Of this amount, fifteen thousand pesos each shall be paid to the heirs of Ricardo Alcantara, heirs of Fernando Catabay, heirs of Felicisimo S. Roldan, heirs of Bernardo Bausa, heirs of Jesus Mejia, and heirs of Leopoldo Inelda, all of which sums shall be exempt from all kinds of taxes.
SEC. 2. There is hereby authorized to be appropriated, out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of five hundred thousand pesos, to be paid as compensation for the death of, or injuries sustained by, persons in the course or as a result of a public demonstration, rally, protest march, assembly or mass action, subject to the following conditions:
(a) That at the time of death or injury, the victim was not engaged in the commission of any unlawful acts; (b) That in case of death, the compensation shall be twelve thousand pesos; (c) That in case of injury, the compensation shall be the actual medical and hospitalization expenses incurred but in no case to exceed twelve thousand pesos; and (d) That compensation shall be allowed only if the victim had an annual income of less than six thousand pesos, as certified by the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
Claims for compensation provided in this Act shall be filed with and processed by the Department of Social Welfare.
SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval but shall apply to injuries or deaths occurring after January first, nineteen hundred and seventy.
Approved, September 30, 1971.
