Binay family gives P100k to each Mamasapano survivor

MANILA, Philippines —  The family of Vice President Jejomar Binay on Sunday gave cash to each of the 15 policemen from the elite Special Action Force wounded in the January 25 clash in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

Binay and his children, Sen. Nancy Binay and Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin "Junjun" Binay, invited the wounded commandos to lunch where they extended P100,000 from Makati government to each of them.

"Having learned that those who survived may no longer be able to go back to active duty because of their injuries, we have decided to raise the amount to P100,000 [from P50,000]," the elder Binay said, as cited in a state news report.

"We hope it can help cover the family's expenditures on their treatment and therapy," he added.

The final amount is the same figure earlier allocated by the Makati City government for each of the slain 44 SAF troopers' families.

Binay also commended the wounded policemen for risking their lives "to capture known terrorists responsible for indiscriminate attacks targeting innocent civilians in various parts of the world."

The police operation targeted international terrorists Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, and Basit Usman said to be key officials in the extremist network Jemaah Islamiyah. Several retreating SAF members, however, were shot to death by insurgents from the MILF and the Bangsamoro Islamic Liberation Front. - Camille Diola