Lawmakers to start fund drive for Marawi victims

MANILA, Philippines - Lawmakers have vowed to initiate a fund drive and pool their own money to help victims of the siege of Marawi City, where government security forces have been battling the Maute terror group for a week now.

“I will initiate a fund drive among my colleagues and to hopefully pass a multi-party resolution setting aside part of our salaries for the people of Marawi City, as well as for the soldiers that died in the line of fire,” House Deputy Speaker Romero Quimbo said yesterday. 

 Another Deputy Speaker, Rep. Raneo Abu of Batangas, also volunteered to help and called on the country’s largest companies to provide cash and food items to support the victims and help relief efforts in conflict areas.

 “The country’s biggest corporations can contribute hugely in extending assistance to the victims and the rebuilding efforts,” Abu said. “Hopefully, the Marawi City crisis will be over very soon.” 

 Reps. Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar and Gus Tambunting (Parañaque City) also joined in, with the former calling the pooling of funds for the victims “a very good gesture.”

“I am all for it,” Evardone said.

“We will pass the hat and also solicit from other well-meaning friends who wish to extend assistance to our brothers and sisters in Marawi,” Tambunting said. 

 Citizens Battle Against Corruption party-list Rep. Sherwin Tugna made the same gesture, saying the fund drive “can be done by members of the House by contributing their own personal funds to help our distressed fellow Filipinos.”

Meanwhile, Vice President Leni Robredo yesterday visited wounded soldiers and the wake of those killed in the Marawi battle.

In a video posted on her Facebook account, Robredo was seen conversing with soldiers and handing them cash assistance at a hospital in Iligan City.

Earlier in the day, the Vice President visited the wake of Pvt. Marlo Rota, 21, who was killed during the clash.

Rota just graduated from training last year and Marawi City was his first assignment, according to his brother Cpl. Rambo Rota.

Robredo also visited the evacuees in Iligan City yesterday.

She said the displaced individuals are in need of water, clothes, stoves and portalets.

Robredo said many of the evacuees were worried because their houses were burned down.

“They asked me until when they will stay in the evacuation centers. That is very hard to answer. But we assure them that the government is here to take care of them,” the Vice President said in an interview. – Delon Porcalla, Helen Flores, Lino de la Cruz, Non Alquitran, John Unson, Mayen Jaymalin, Evelyn Macairan, Rainier Allan Ronda