The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has received P5 million of financial assistance from two congressmen and a group of businessmen for the victims of the C-130 military plane crash in Patikul, Sulu over a week ago.
Lt. Gen. Erickson Gloria, AFP Vice Chief of Staff, personally accepted the donation from ACT-CIS Prtylist Rep. Eric Go Yap, Davao City First District Rep. Paolo Duterte, and the business sectors in Benguet and Davao in a handover ceremony at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Monday, July 12.
"This very timely financial assistance handed over today will be judiciously distributed to support the AFP personnel’s families who were victims of the tragic accident," Gloria said.
According to Gloria, sixty percent of the total amount of donations will be distributed equally to the families of the 49 soldiers who died in the plane crash. The remaining 40 percent will be allocated for the 47 military personnel who got injured.
Aside from the donation, the victims and their families are entitled to receive Command Special Financial Assistance which includes the sum of their base pay, hazard pay and bonuses; a funeral service support amounting to P80,000; and monthly pension based on their rank and length of service.
They will also benefit from the Office of the President’s Comprehensive Social Benefits Program and other assistance from the different AFP units and other sectors.
"The pain and suffering of this incredible tragedy still lingers, but I am sure it is the wish of our fallen that the family they have left behind be taken cared of and comforted," Gloria said.