Congressmen each donate P10K of salary
MANILA, Philippines—Members of the House of Representatives will donate P10,000 each from their monthly salaries to the widows and orphans of police commandos killed in an encounter with Moro rebels.
The leaders of the chamber, led by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., pledged financial assistance to the families of the 44 slain Special Action Force as a gesture of sympathy and to honor their heroism.
Under a House resolution, the financial assistance will be funded by voluntary contributions of P10,000 from individual lawmakers to be deducted from their salaries.
There are 290 representatives in the House who receive a monthly salary of P90,000 to P100,000 each. If all lawmakers make a donation, the families of the SAF officers will receive almost P3 million.
“The entire nation mourns the death of these brave soldiers/policemen, considered modern-day heroes who laid down their lives in the call of duty,” the resolution said.
At least five measures have been filed in the House condemning the bloodshed or seeking a congressional investigation into the circumstances that led to the encounter.
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