House resumes hearing on Mamasapano debacle. Members of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, April 7, resume the hearings on the Mamasapano incident that claimed the lives of more than 60 Filipinos, including 44 members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force, on January 25. GMA News
Some P76 million in funds have already been given to the families of the fallen and surviving members of Special Action Force (SAF) commandos involved in the January 25 Mamasapano clash, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas said Tuesday.
“Total roughly P76 million have already been released as of yesterday,” Roxas said during the resumption of the House of Representatives’ inquiry on the clash, upon the questioning of Masbate Rep. Scott Davies Lanete.
Not yet included in the amount was the P5.3 million from the House of Representatives.
Roxas said the President’s Social Fund (PSF) released 44 cheques amounting to P11 million each, at P250,000 per family of the fallen SAF members. Likewise, the PNP special assistance also released 44 cheques amounting to P7.682 million.
“This is dependent on the rank of the person, while the PSF is equal irrespective of rank,” Roxas pointed out.
He added that there is also an automatic commutation of all accumulated leave allowances amounting to P9.604 million that have already been released. He said the National Police Commission released 56 cheques for burial and gratuity benefits amounting to P14 million and another 29 cheques amounting to P490,000.
The PNP pension also releases P1.2 million every month, said Roxas.
“This is automatic which relatively equates to their monthly salary, whatever was their monthly salary,” he said.
He also said Public Safety Mutual Benefit Fund Inc., gave P24 million to the families of the fallen officers while the local government of Dasmariñas, Cavite donated P3.1 million.
Roxas said he made public the list of donation just for the information of the public.
“Hindi mapapantayan ng kahit anong financial assistance ang sakripisyo na ibinigay ng 44 SAF heroes. Pumasok sila dun sa mapanganib na operasyon, buong loob nilang ginampanan ang kanilang gawain, as I said they accomplished their mission, lamang nga marami ang nalagas sa kanila,” he said.
He added the government is also trying to help the families of the fallen police officers in their educational and housing needs.
“Ginagawa ng pamahalaan ang lahat para sa kahit papaanong paraan ay mabawasan ang paghihirap ng pamilya, at least yung physical na paghihirap ng kanilang mga pamilya,” he said.
Roxas said he designated Director Rolly Puruganan, PNP comptroller, to oversee the administration of assistance for the families of the SAF 44.
“Nang sa ganun ay hindi mahirapan ang mga pamilya o byuda so ang patakaran ay kung anumang pag-follow up ay PNP ang gagawa para hindi maabala ang mga pamilya sa pabalik balik ng papel. Each of the families ay na-assign ng isang attending personnel para may liaison sila kung ano ang pangangailangan nila ay may matatakbuhan sila,” he said. —KBK, GMA News
