MANILA, Philippines—The Mayor of Cotabato City was lying when he said on television that the national government had not given any assistance to his city following the heavy flooding that hit it, Malacañang said Thursday.
“At a time that calls for solidarity to effectively assist our countrymen in Mindanao, it is unfortunate that some officials choose to politicize relief efforts,” said Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda in a statement.
“When Cotabato City Mayor Japal Guiani goes before national media to tell lies, your government is obligated to tell the truth. There is no basis for Mayor Guiani’s prevarication that the national government has not sent relief or aid to Cotabato City, going as far as to accuse the President of not bringing relief goods,” Lacierda said.
He said the national government has spent P12 million for relief operations. He said P7 million came from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), while the national government provided P3.45 million. Nongovernment organizations gave P350,000.