ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has provided financial assistance to 36 of the over 100 survivors of the twin bomb attacks on a Catholic church in Jolo, Sulu.
Each of the 36 victims received PHP20,000 from ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman, who visited them late Monday at the hospital.
“These survivors are undergoing treatment for the wounds they sustained from the attacks at the Zamboanga City Medical Hospital,” Hataman said.
An update released by the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) headquarters on Tuesday said 22 people were killed while some 100 others were wounded in the twin blasts at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Barangay Walled City, Jolo, Sulu.
“Our staff in the province (of Sulu) are also ready to assist the victims, the survivors, and their families,” said lawyer Laisa Alamia, secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in ARMM (DSWD-ARMM).
Cash assistance of PHP500,000 will also be given to the parish for the renovation or repair of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral.
Meanwhile, the regional government has begun distributing relief goods to the internally displaced persons (IDPs) on Tuesday in Barangays Bungkaong and Latih, Patikul, Sulu.
“So far, the DSWD-ARMM has monitored around 62 families displaced, from Barangay Bungkaong and other barangays to Barangay Latih in Patikul,” Alamia said, adding that the number of IDPs is expected to increase in the coming days.
The IDPs evacuated as the security forces have launched an offensive against the Abu Sayyaf bandits tagged as behind Sunday’s bomb attacks on the cathedral.
Alamia said the DSWD-ARMM will continue to provide assistance to the IDPs until they can safely return to their homes. (PNA)
