Legarda Lauds Military, Police in Marawi, Assures Assistance to Bereaved Families

Senator Loren Legarda today lauded all the military troops and police personnel who fought in Marawi City, which eventually led to the city’s liberation from terrorists.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, also assured that the bereaved families of slain soldiers and policemen would be given financial support as mandated under the law.

“We honor the bravery and gallantry of the personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) who were deployed in Marawi City, especially the 157 soldiers and six police personnel who sacrificed their lives defending the city from terrorists,” said Legarda.

“I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families of our fallen soldiers and cops and we will ensure that they will be provided what is due them. This is the only way we can repay them for their ultimate sacrifice,” she added.

The Senator noted that under Republic Act No. 6963, families of deceased or permanently incapacitated soldiers and policemen should receive special financial assistance for the next six months after the personnel’s death or incapacity.

The surviving spouse, or an employable child if the spouse is employed, should be given priority in employment in a government or agency or office where his/her qualifications are fitted.

Moreover, all surviving children of the deceased or permanently incapacitated military or police personnel are entitled to scholarship up to college in a nonexclusive institution.

Legarda said that this is assured in the 2018 national budget because aside from the funding for the free tuition in state universities and colleges (SUCs), there is a special provision under the AFP budget which states that “Thirty percent of the net proceeds of the firearms license fees collected by the PNP shall be used for scholarship privileges to surviving children of deceased or permanently incapacitated military or police personnel in accordance with RA 6963.”

Meanwhile, the National Housing Authority (NHA) said that under the new AFP-PNP Housing Program, families of soldiers and policemen who were killed in action are entitled to free housing units.

The Senator said she will also look into the possibility of providing financial assistance to all soldiers and policemen who fought and survived the war.

“We thank all our brave men and women who fought in Marawi. You have sacrificed so much to ensure peace and order in our communities. We salute you. In return, we want to be able to provide you with financial assistance and other forms of support, as a way of saying ‘Thank you.’ To all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, we want to express our gratitude to them by ensuring that the families they left behind will be provided with the necessary government support,” Legarda concluded.