The Department of Social Welfare and Development on Monday vowed to facilitate the release of the second tranche of financial assistance allotted for the immediate relatives of the 44 policemen who were killed in the botched operation to neutralize two terrorists in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in 2015.
The DSWD issued the statement after relatives of the 44 commandos complained that they have yet to receive the financial assistance promised by the Aquino administration.
In a statement, the agency said the first tranche of the Special Financial Assistance amounting to P11,378,338.59 was released to 71 dependents in 2015.
The President’s Social Fund of the previous administration under the “Social Services Program for the Families of the Armed Forces of the Philippines [AFP] and Philippine National Police [PNP] Personnel killed in Military and Police Operations,” was used, the DSWD said.
Two SAF companies were sent to Barangay Tukanalipao in Mamasapano in January 2015 “to neutralize” Malaysian bomb maker Zulkifli Bin-Hir, alyas Marwan, and Filipino terrorist Bassit Usman.
Marwan was killed during the initial fighting. However, the policemen were ambushed by Moro Islamic Liberation force and other gunmen in the area leading to a daylong fighting.
Army troops led by several generals who were deployed near the area at that time refused to reinforce the beleaguered policemen, raising suspicions that the army troops in the area were protecting the Malaysian terrorist.
In the fallout after the operation, several charges have been filed against former President Benigno Aquino III, former National Police chief Alan Purisima, and former SAF director Getulio Napeñas.
Early this year, the families of the commandos complained that they have yet to receive the entire aid package promised by the Aquino administration.
The DSWD said it would assist the dependents—the recipients of the first tranche—in liquidating the funds released to them in the first tranche.