EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 487 - CONSTITUTING A PHILIPPINE CLAIMS AND COMPENSATION COMMITTEE FOR THE REPARATION FOR DAMAGES, DEATHS, INJURIES, AND LOSSES SUFFERED BY INDIVIDUALS, COMPANIES AND GOVERNMENT AS A RESULT OF THE IRAQI INVASION OF KUWAIT

WHEREAS, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution No. 687 (1991) holding Iraq liable under international law for any direct loss, damage, or injury to foreign Governments, nationals and corporations for its invasion of Kuwait, and authorized the creation of fund to pay compensation claims;

WHEREAS, the Security Council further adopted Resolution No. 692 (1991) which formally established the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC) to be administered by a Governing Council based in Geneva;

WHEREAS, in the light of the above developments, there is an urgent need for the Philippine Government to establish a body that shall undertake information dissemination; accept, verify and process all claims/applications by any Filipino contract worker or company or agency; and submit the same to the said U.N. Compensation Commission;  

NOW, THEREFORE, I, CORAZON C. AQUINO, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

Section 1. There is hereby constituted a Philippines Claims and Compensation Committee, hereafter referred to as the Committee, composed of the following:

Secretary of Foreign Affairs  Chairman

Secretary of Labor and Employment   Vice-Chairman

Secretary of Justice     Member

Governor of the Central Bank of the Philippines     Member

Director General Philippine Information Agency  Member

Sec. 2. The Committee shall have the following functions and responsibilities for the reparation for damages, death, injuries and losses suffered by individuals, companies and government as a result of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait:

a. Disseminate information on the guidelines, rules and regulations on the filing of claims for compensation;  

b. Distribute United Nations Compensation Commission claim forms to Filipino nationals, corporations, and government agencies and assist in the preparation thereof;

c. Receive, verify, process and consolidate all claims;

d. Submit to and follow-up with the United Nations Compensation Commission all duly processed claims/applications; and

e. Accept and receive on behalf of all Philippine claimants, all payments approved by the United Nations Commission and ensure immediate transmittal/distribution to claimants, their assignees or successors-in-interest.