AFP called out for measly assistance to Marawi troops

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Audit (COA) has scolded the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for granting measly financial assistance to soldiers who fought during the 2017 Marawi siege despite the hefty donations it received from several organizations.

“Extensive media coverage of the Marawi siege prompted different individuals and organizations to donate funds totaling P274,964,222.02 to be distributed to the casualties as financial assistance,” the audit body said in its 2018 annual report on the AFP general headquarters.

Of the amount, state auditors said P251.718 million was transferred by the AFP to various implementing agencies, P8,653 million was deposited to the Bureau of Treasury and only P23.14 million was actually distributed to the wounded soldiers and to the families of those who died in battle.

Based on COA’s records, the AFP suffered a total casualty of 2,266 troopers during the Marawi operations. Of the number, 287 soldiers were killed and 1,979 wounded.

As of end-2018, COA said the AFP assisted the kin of only eight slain soldiers with P1 million check for each family. The audit body said 949 wounded soldiers received cash grants.

“The absence of a clear directive on the grant of financial assistance to the Marawi siege victims resulted in the unequal distribution of benefits to the beneficiaries,” the COA said.

A breakdown of the cash assistance for the wounded soldiers showed that 265 received P5,000 each while 227 received P10,000 to P18,000 each.

Nineteen wounded soldiers were given P6,000 to P8,000 each, while 139 got P3,000 each and 23 received P2,000 each.

A total of 90 wounded soldiers received P20,000 to P27,000 each; 66 got P30,000 to P35,000; 33 received P40,000 to P48,000 and 83 got P50,000 to P55,000.

Only two wounded troopers received P85,000 each, while one got P66,000 and another P90,000.

“There were no clear guidelines to serve as basis for the amount of assistance to be given to each personnel, such as wounds suffered, number of days admitted in the hospital, etc.,” COA said.

In response to the audit report, the AFP submitted seven guidelines that the military supposedly observed in the grant of financial aid to the soldiers who fought in Marawi.

In May 2017, President Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao after the Islamic State-inspired local terrorist group Maute, led by brothers Omar and Abdullah, blockaded the city with the help of the Abu Sayyaf faction under Isnilon Hapilon.

The battle between government troops and militant forces lasted until October 2017, leaving the city in ruins with at least 1,000 people dead and more than 3,000 displaced.