BAGUIO CITY– Relatives and family members of the 14 Cordillerans who were part of the 44 Mamasapano massacre last January 25, 2015 continue to receive blessings from kind-hearted individuals locally and even overseas.
The group of Coprdillera musicians turned over to the representatives of the 14 fallen Cordillera heroes some P14,000 each which were the proceeds of the Concert for a Cause held in cooperation with the Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters Club (BCBC) at the University of Baguio gymnasium last March 28.
The financial assistance to the representatives of the 14 fallen heroes was turned over by lawyer Bobot Olarte and come backing folksinger Bryan Aliping.
On the other hand, members of the BIBAK Northern California were able to raise some P70,000 which were turned over to the representatives of the 14 fallen Cordillera heroes during the regular Monday flag-raising ceremonies at the city hall grounds.
Art Bolayo, former president of the BIBAK Northern California, Bryan Aliping and Getty Diaz Bawayan turned over to the families of the fallen heroes the amount of P5,000 each symbolizing their deepest sympath7y and condolences to the fate of their family members who died while in the performance of their sworn duties and responsibilities.
Bolayo said the funds that they were able to turnover might be negligible but what is important is that fellow Cordillerans working in Northern California who comprise the |BIBAK organization sympathize with them on the unfortunate incident that resulted to the untimely demise of the young Cordillera members of the Philippine National Police – Special Action Force (PNP-SAF).
Last week, Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan and city officials turned over to the family members of the 14 fallen Cordillera heroes the amount of P20,000 each as the city’s financial assistance to them and in recognition of the heroism of their late relatives in upholding the country’s democracy and peace and order.
Domogan said it took time for the city government to release the financial assistance to the recipients because its release had to pass through the regular stringent government accounting and auditing rules and regulations plus the fact that it also took sometime for the city social welfare and development office to set and synchronize the available dates of the family members so that they will be able to receive their financial assistance simultaneously.
For the past several months, various local governments, civic organizations and concerned individuals had been involved in the raising of funds here and abroad in order to generate adequate resources that were equally distributed to the 14 fallen Cordillera heroes in recognition of their gallantry and bravery in their efforts to capture Malasian terrorist Zulkifli benHir alias Marwan who was slain in that tragic incident in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January 25.
Domogan appealed to the relatives and family members of the 14 Cordillera heroes to wisely use the financial assistance in order to support their families as they try to hurdle the difficulties of being able to overcome what happened and move on in their lives as well as to raise their children in the future.
By Dexter A. See
