MANILA, Philippines – As millions of Filipino Muslims commemorate Eid’l Fitr or the end of fasting and the holy month of Ramadan, Vice President Leni Robredo, enjoined the public to pray for the residents of the war-torn Marawi City who are still suffering and unable to return to their homes two years after terrorists laid siege on the city.
“We pray for our brothers and sisters from Marawi, who are still suffering and unable to return to their homes for two years now since the siege,” Robredo said in her message Wednesday.
Beyond this year’s Eid’ l Fitr, Filipinos should also “continue reaching out to the last, the least, and the lost among us,” Robredo added.
The second highest elected official of the country also urged Filipinos to pray for lasting peace in the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Marawi blues
The Commission on Audit earlier hit the Office of Civil Defense for its poor use of funds for displaced Marawi City residents.
READ: COA hits poor use of donated funds for ‘Yolanda,’ Marawi victims
The OCD only spent P10,000 out of the P36.92 million cash donations for the survivors of the Marawi siege, according to COA’s 2018 annual audit report.
COA also sought the refund of some P5 million Marawi fund which the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council had diverted to cover expenses of Marawi residents who went on a Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia in 2018. (Editor: Gilbert S. Gaviola)
READ: Robredo hits delay in release of Yolanda, Marawi funds
RELATED STORY: Scarcity of land delays Marawi housing projects