MANILA -- After visiting victims of Typhoon "Ompong" in Benguet and Isabela, Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go on Tuesday extended assistance to the bereaved families of the three children who were found dead due to drowning.
The three were among the four children who were earlier reported missing after they were washed away by the strong water current while playing at the Tullahan river last September 16.
They were identified as Rheniel Tejadilla, 13; Kerby Tejadilla, 10; Jillian Salud, 10; and Joshua Nel Casing, 11.
Joshua is the lone survivor in the incident.
“Sa dalawang pamilya ng mga biktima, sinabi ko na mayroong housing program ang gobyerno. Tutulong po kami, aside from that, kaunting cash assistance. Ipinapaabot po ni Pangulong Duterte ang kanyang pakikiramay sa mga pamilya ng nasawi (To the two families of the victims, I told them that the government has housing programs. Aside from that, we will also give some cash assistance. President [Rodrigo Roa] Duterte extends his sympathy to the bereaved families),” Go said.
“Gusto ng mga magulang na ipagtabi ‘yung dalawang anak niya. Sasagutin rin namin ‘yung pagpapalibing sa isang pribadong sementeryo po (The parents want their two children to be buried next to each other. We will shoulder the burial expenses in a private cemetery),” he added.
The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Valenzuela, through Mayor Rexlon T. Gatchalian, provided burial assistance of PHP30,000 for each victim.
During Go’s visit to the wake, a concerned resident of Valenzuela raised the issue on the possible negligence of the construction workers in charge of repairing the bridge.
Go said he will communicate with the officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways and vowed to investigate the workers liability.
“Papatingnan ko kung liable ba ‘yung workers. Ongoing ‘yung project, sabi ni Congressman. Papatingnan ko ito kaagad bukas (I will have it investigated if the workers are liable. According to Congressman [Wes Gatchalian], the project is ongoing. I will have it checked tomorrow.) ” Go said. (OSAP PR)
