Aid for terror victims sought in Senate bill

Senate of the Philippines. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — A bill assisting victims of terror attacks has been filed in the Senate.

Senate Bill No. 2511, known as the “Terror Victims Assistance Act of 2023,” was lodged Thursday by Senator Robin  Padilla.

“In most cases, if not all, victims of these evil acts who suffered injuries and families of those who were killed during terror attacks are left on their own with mounting expenses, such as but not limited to: medical, burial, transportation, and even long-term rehabilitation,” Padilla said in his explanatory note in the bill.

“Thus, this measure intends to establish a program through the Department of Social Welfare and Development to ensure that the terror victims and families of victims left behind have access to much-needed government assistance,” he added.

Padilla was referring to the Terror Victim Assistance Program, which will be created under his bill to assist victims and families of those killed during terrorist attacks in the Philippines and abroad.

Among the assistance being proposed in the measure include financial, material, psychosocial, and referral support and services to individuals and households who became victims of terrorism.

In filing the bill, the senator noted that the country is still grappling with terrorism and violent extremism despite the government’s efforts to combat terror acts.

The most recent terror act was the bombing of the Dimaporo Gymnasium inside the Mindanao State University in Marawi City, which claimed the lives of four people and injured 50 others.

The local affiliate of the terrorist network Islamic State has already claimed responsibility for the Marawi bombing last December  3.