While he is thankful for the government’s continued efforts to aid victims of the 2017 Marawi siege, Sen. Robinhood “Robin” C. Padilla called for continued assistance for them.
Padilla assured the public that the aid will not be wasted because Muslims, especially the Maranaos, are good at business and can use the aid to completely recover.
“Sana lamang po, patuloy ninyo kaming tulungang makabangon dahil alam ninyo kami ay biktima. Mga Muslim sa Marawi sa buong Lanao ay biktima ng dayuhang ideolohiyang ito (I hope the government will continue its aid to help us recover. Muslims in Marawi and the entire Lanao were victims of the armed group that acted on its ideology),” Padilla said at the hearing of the Senate Special Committee on Marawi City Rehabilitation and Victims’ Compensation on Tuesday.
“(Ang pondo) ng taumbayan, shine-share ninyo sa ating mga kababayan sa Marawi na nasalanta ng giyera, hindi masasayang sapagka’t ang Maranao yan ay kilalang mga traders, sila ay mga negosyante (The public’s funds will not go to waste. The funds shared by the public with our people in Marawi will be put to good use because the Maranaos are good traders),” he added.
He also stressed Maranaos are an “asset” to the country and will not waste the attention and assistance from the government. “Kumbaga ay inaakay natin silang makabangon (We are helping them get back on their feet),” he said.
Padilla thanked anew President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who he credited for continuing the giving of compensation to those affected by the 2017 conflict.
He thanked as well Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Francis Tolentino and Bong Go for their continued support for Marawi compensation.
“Itong usapin sa Marawi, ito ay isang bagay na huwag natin kalimutan. Ito pong nangyari dito nagtagumpay ang sambayanang Pilipinas laban sa isang ideolohiyang dayuhan, ito ang ISIS. Nanalo po tayo dito, nanalo ang ating bayan laban sa ideolohiyang sumisira sa aming religion. Kaya kami po mga Muslim patuloy na nagpapasalamat sa inyo (We must not forget what happened in Marawi. The Philippines triumphed over the ideology of ISIS, which threatens to destroy our religion. That is why we Muslims are thankful they were thwarted),” he said.
