Angara bats for bills granting financial aid to slain soldiers

In this June 9, 2017, photo, soldiers ride a military vehicle on the outskirts of Marawi city, southern Philippines. The Philippine military says 13 marines have been killed in fierce fighting with Muslim militants who have laid siege to southern Marawi city. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Senator Sonny Angara on Sunday renewed his call for the Senate to pass his bills granting special financial assistance and benefits to uniformed and law enforcement personnel following the death of 13 Marines during a 14-hour firefight in Marawi City.

 READ: 13 Marines killed in action, 40 wounded in 14-hour battle in Marawi 

In a statement, Angara said the country’s troops need all the support they can get, in batting for the passage of his bills Senate Bill 1462 or the Uniformed and Law Enforcement Personnel Special Financial Assistance Act, and SB 1463 or the Uniformed and Law Enforcement Personnel Educational Assistance Act.

“As the siege by extremist groups continue to drag on in Marawi City, our brave soldiers need all the support they can get. It’s unfortunate that this conflict has cost the lives of many of our troops. Nakikiramay po tayo sa kanilang mga pamilya (We condole with their surviving families),” Angara said.

Under Senate Bill 1462, a personnel of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines killed or permanently incapacitated will be entitled to a special financial assistance equivalent to his/her average six months’ salary, including allowances and bonuses.

The surviving spouses or designated beneficiaries will also be given priority in getting employment in government, the bill said.

Meanwhile, under Senate Bill 1463, the surviving children of the slain government troops and law enforcer will be automatically given full scholarship from kindergarten to tertiary education, including payment of tuition and miscellaneous fees, allowance for books and school supplies, and allowance for food and transportation.

“Bilang pagkilala sa kanilang sakripisyo, mahalaga na masiguro natin ang kinabukasan ng kanilang mga naiwang mahal sa buhay (In recognition of their sacrifices, it is important to ensure the future of their surviving familes). Upgrading the assistance and benefits of our uniformed personnel is long overdue. I call on our colleagues to prioritize the passage of such bills,” Angara said.

Angara’s bill also sought to create a Dependents Welfare Office, which would expedite the grant of financial assistance and benefits within three days from receipt of certification of death or disability.

The bill will also expand the coverage of the special assistance to uniformed personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).

“Such special assistance befits the selfless service of our fallen heroes who have offered their lives to preserve peace, defend the dignity of the country, and ensure the safety of all Filipinos,” Angara said.

The 13 Marines were killed during a 14-hour firefight in Marawi City against the members of the terror group Maute. It was the government’s biggest single day loss since the fighting ensued almost three weeks ago.

With the deaths of 13 Marines, the latest casualty toll among government troops rose to 58, on top of the 138 militants and 20 civilians killed since soldiers battled out with Maute terrorists in Marawi.

READ: Duterte insists: Martial law not meant to keep me in power 

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier placed the whole Mindanao under martial law in a bid to contain the attack in Marawi City and eliminate the Maute, which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State or ISIS.

The US has pitched assistance in the conflict as US spy planes flew over Marawi City conducting surveillance and non-combat assistance, even as Duterte rejected US aid and asserted the country’s independent foreign policy./rga

 READ: US spy planes helping Philippine troops in Marawi