362 Marawi siege victims to start receiving compensation

A total of 362 victims of the 2017 siege of Marawi City by terrorists are expected to receive monetary compensation after the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) released a P1 billion budget.

“Napakasaya po namin sa MCB (Marawi Compensation Board). Sa wakas, masisimulan na po naming magbigay ng compensation,” said the board's chairperson Maisara Dandamun-Latiph at a public briefing.

Latiph said there are an estimated 6,000 claimants as of September this year.

Following the issuance of the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO), the P1 billion will be awarded to 362 victims whose lives had been affected by the five-month terror.

The MCB has recently evaluated the claims of 303 households who lost their properties and 59 families who lost their loved ones.

“For structure alone and death, that’s already P9.5 billion. Pero kapag sinama natin ang personal property, P17.5 billion ang estimated amount,” she added.

The families of the deceased in the siege are entitled to P350,000 in compensation.

The MCB encouraged the victims to apply before the filing period ends on July 3, 2024.

The Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Act of 2022, signed by former President Rodrigo Duterte, aims to compensate those who suffered loss and destruction of property during the Maute terror group's months-long siege on the Islamic city. —LDF, GMA Integrated News