Cotabato appeals to residents to stop begging for relief goods along highways, says it’s unfair to emergency workers

COTABATO ACTING Governor Emmylou Talino-Mendoza appealed to residents, whether they have been affected or not by last month’s triple earthquakes, to stop begging for relief goods along the national highway, stressing that both the local government and national agencies have been working 24/7 for the emergency operations. Ms. Mendoza said while they are free to do such acts, it is unfair to the emergency workers who have been doing their best. “Hindi nagkulang ang national at local governments sa pagtulong sa kanila (We have not been remiss in the emergency response),” Ms. Mendoza said in a telephone interview, noting that evacuation areas were immediately set up, and relief goods distribution and rescue operations have been continuing. She also said the province — which was the epicenter of the magnitude 6.4, 6.6, and 6.5 earthquakes — fully supports the directive of Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana to the Armed Forces of the Philippines to set up checkpoints in quake-affected areas in Mindanao to properly monitor the movement of relief goods and workers as well as ensure peace and security. “My position is to maintain the security and the orderliness by supporting the directive of (Mr.) Lorenzana for an orderly flow of the distribution of the relief goods.” Meanwhile, Cotabato Police Chief Maximo C. Layugan has reported incidents of looting in Barangay Batasan. — Maya M. Padillo