Davao de Oro quake victims receive cash aid from DSWD S

ecretary Rex Gatchalian of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) personally handed over on Monday afternoon the financial assistance to 490 families affected by a strong earthquake in Davao de Oro province.

The 6.0 magnitude earthquake last Feb. 1 affected at least 229,674 families or around 779,918 individuals in the province.

Each family received PHP3,000 under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program of the agency.

In his speech during the distribution of financial assistance in Monkayo town, Gatchalian announced the start of the payout in other Davao de Oro towns “in the coming days.”

“I personally came here to monitor the payout. The instruction of our

President is to ensure that whenever the Filipinos need help with or without a disaster, the DSWD’s help should be within reach,” he said.

Gatchalian pointed out that the government should be the one to reach out for people who need

An armed man believed to be among the suspects in the assassination attempt on Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr. was killed in a police operation.

Speaking to reporters in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Wednesday, Philippine National Police-Public Information Office (PNPPIO) chief, Col. Redrico Maranan, identified the suspect as alias “Otin”, the son of an alias “Fighter” who is among the five main suspects in the ambush.

Maranan said this was based on the report of Brig. Gen. John Guyguyon, director of the Police Regional Office in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PROBAR).

“Noong Feb. 18 ay nagkaroon ng resulta yung hot pursuit operation na ginagawa ng ating kapulisan saPRO BAR sa pangunguna ng ating regional director na si (Brig.) Gen. John Guyguyon at sa hot pursuit operation na ito ay nakasagupa ng mga elemento ng ating pambansang pulisya ang isang kinilala na isang alias Otin at ito ay base sa pagkilala ng mga testigo ay isa sa mga responsible sa pag-ambush kayGovernor Adiong (Last Feb. 18, a hot pursuit operation was conducted by the PRO BAR led by regional director, Gen. John Guyguyon. And in this operation, the cops encountered a person identified as an alias Otin and it is based on the identification of the witnesses that he is one of those responsible for the ambush of Governor Adiong),” Maranan said.

Seized from the suspect was a Colt MK IV .45-caliber pistol with serial number 79234, loaded with six live ammunition.

PNP chief, Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., said an investigation is underway to determine the motive for the ambush, which includes a possible retaliation against the governor’s crackdown on marijuana plantations in the province.

“We will continue investigating and determine the real motive of the ambush of Governor Adiong. But we are very careful in investigating and looking at the possible persons of interest in order to ensure that we get the right persons,” said Azurin in a separate statement.

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