Relatives of SAF 44 say yet to receive in full financial assistance from gov’t

THE RELATIVES of the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) troopers who were killed in the 2015 Mamasapano clash have not yet received the full financial assistance promised to them by the government said one of the aggrieved kin.
According to Helen Ramacula, mother of PO2 Rodel Ramacula, family members received around P200,000 of the promised P300,000 in financial assistance in 2015, but have not received anything since.
“Kaso yung sinasabi nilang pangkabuhayan, apat na taon na, wala pa rin (The thing is, the economic assistance they promised, after four years, there still is none),” said Ms. Ramacula in a chance interview with reporters during commemoration rites for the policemen who died during the Mamasapano clash on Friday, Jan. 25, at Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.
Ms. Ramacula said that the Department of Social Welfare and Development promised them P300,000 but only 70% of that amount was given them.
“’Yung second grant namin, ang sabi, to be followed (The second grant, they told us, was to follow),” she said. “Dapat mga P87,000 pa kasi P200,000 pa lang nabibigay per family. Nasa papel namin. (There is still around P87,000 to be given, because each family only received P200,000. It is in our papers).”
Despite the delay, the relatives are still hopeful that they will receive the remaining amount and assistance promised to them. “Umaasa pa talaga. Meron naman kaming mga papel. Sinabi nila eh (We are still hopeful. We have papers. That’s what they told us),” said Ms. Ramacula.
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police said that it has already done its part in assisting the relatives.
“Well, as far as the Philippine National Police is concerned, we believe na naibigay na namin yung karapatang mga benepisyo (we already gave them their due benefits). Pero bukas tayo sa anumang mga hinaing nila kung meron pa silang kailan matanggap (But we are still open to other requests if they still have other things to receive),” PNP Spokesperson Senior Supt. Bernard M. Banac told reporters. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras