Pulong, Yap vow P5M aid for Sulu crash victims
PRESIDENTIAL son and Davao City Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte and ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Eric Yap pledged P5 million financial assistance for the victims of the July 4 crash of a Philippine Air Force (PAF) C-130 transport plane in Patikul, Sulu.
Duterte and Yap said the donation will serve as an immediate financial assistance to the families of the military troops and civilians that died in the Sulu plane crash incident, as well as those injured in the tragedy.
“Last Sunday, we lost some of our troops and civilians in a plane crash in Patikul, Sulu. To us, they are heroes and we salute them for their sacrifices. But to their families, they are everything. From the people of Davao City, we would like to extend our condolences to the bereaved families and loved ones of those who died in the incident. We are one with you in prayers and I pray that you shall be blessed with solace and strength to endure the days ahead,” Duterte stated.
“Kami sa Benguet ay nakikiramay sa mga pamilya ng naiwan nating sundalo at sibilyan. Nakakalungkot ang sinapit ng ating mga sundalo na gusto lang ay makapagsilbi sa bayan at paigtingin pa ang ating paglaban sa terorismo. Saludo tayo sa kanila,” said Yap for his part.
The donation will be turned over in Camp Aguinaldo on Monday and is expected to be received by ranking officials of the AFP.
The assistance is then expected to be distributed among the families of the deceased and injured troops and civilians.
Aside from Duterte and Yap, part of the donations came from the business sector of Davao City and Benguet.
“Maliit lang na halaga ito kumpara sa sakripisyo na kanilang ginawa at sa serbisyo nila para sa bansa. Inmediately after the incident was reported in the news, tumawag agad si Cong Paolo Duterte para planuhin ito. Tumawag din ang ilang mga kaibigan namin mula sa business sector na gusto din makipag-Bayanihan kahit sa maliit na paraan. Hangad natin na kahit papaano ay makatulong tayo sa pamilya nila ngayon na nawalan sila ng mahal sa buhay. At para sa mga sugatan mula sa insidenteng ito, nawa’y magsilbi itong pansamantalang tulong hanggang sila ay makabalik sa serbisyo. Patuloy tayong magdadasal para sa mabilis ninyong recovery,” Yap noted.
“We honor the lives of our State defenders that we lost in this tragedy. No amount of money can compensate the sacrifice they have done but I hope that this can somehow help them for their immediate needs. I am confident that the national government will provide whatever support that the victims and their families may need, and to ensure that no similar incident will occur in the future,” Duterte ended.
