Kin of slain soldiers in Lanao clash receive financial aid from gov’t

Wounded soldier Cpl. Argie B Son-oc receives from Cagayan De Oro 1st. District Rep. a total of P280,000 of financial, educational, and livelihood assistance from Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez. The delivery of the assistance package was in compliance with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to extend aid to the families of soldiers killed and hurt during the February 18 clash with members of the terrorist group Dawlah Islamiyah-Maute.

MANILA, Philippines — The bereaved families of six soldiers who were killed following a clash with the extremist group Dawlah Islamiyah-Maute in Lanao del Norte have received financial assistance from several government officials and agencies, House Deputy Majority Leader for Communications Rep. Erwin Tulfo said on Sunday.

According to Tulfo, the families of slain soldiers, Corporal Rey Anthony Salvador, Corporal Reland Tapinit, Corporal Rodel Mobida, Private First Class (PFC) Arnel Tornito, Private Micharl John Lumingkit, and Private James Porras, have received an aid package worth at least P400,000 to P430,000.

READ: 6 soldiers killed in clash with terrorists in Lanao 

Of this total, P300,000 came in cash, P30,000 came in schooling aid for each of the fallen soldiers’ children, and P100,000 in livelihood assistance.

Apart from the slain soldiers, six others were wounded in the clash with the extremist group on February 18, namely, Corporal Jaymark Remotigue, PFC Marvien Aguipo, Private Amiril Sakinal, Corporal Rey Mark Limare, Corporal Ernil G Quiñones and Private Nazareno Provido.

The wounded soldiers received P150,000 in cash aid, P30,000 in schooling aid for each of their children, and P100,000 in livelihood assistance.

According to Tulfo, the aid which was given to the 12 soldiers and their families totaled to P4.14 million which came from House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez’s personal calamity and emergency funds.

READ: Six soldiers, three Maute fighters killed in Lanao del Norte clash

“The amount was released to them as per the instructions of President Bongbong Marcos Jr. This cannot compensate for the lives lost or the damage caused by the war, but hopefully, it can help the families of our brave soldiers,” Romualdez said in a statement.

On top of these, Tulfo said theDepartment of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and Commission on Higher Education (Ched) will also provide livelihood and educational assistance to the victims and their dependents as instructed by the President.

Dawlah Islamiyah-Maute clashed with soldiers from the 44th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Ramain, Munai town in Lanao del Norte last Feb. 18.