The Senate leadership has prioritized a resolution filed by Senator Robinhood "Robin" Padilla to fast-track the process that would allow victims of the 2017 Marawi siege to get their compensation.
During the plenary session Monday, Aug. 15, Padilla, a Muslim, thanked Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri after he assured he would bring up his measure in Malacañang at the first meeting of the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).
"Lubos ang aking pasasalamat sa ating butihing Senate President sa kanyang suporta upang maitulak ang pagbuo ng Marawi Compensation Board na siyang tutulong sa mga naapektuhan nating mga kababayan sa Marawi City. Sa katunayan ay isa sa mga unang resolusyon na ating isinumite sa Senado ay ang PS Resolution No 8 na naglalayong himukin ang Office of the Executive Secretary na magsagawa ng vetting process ng mga nominado para sa appointment ng ating mahal na Pangulo, sang-ayon sa probisyon ng R.A. 11696 o ang Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Act of 2022 (I am thankful to our Senate President for his support to form the Marawi Compensation Board, which was the subject of one of my first resolutions - Senate Resolution No. 8 - asking the Office of the Executive Secretary to conduct the vetting process for nominees who will compose the board as provided by RA 11696, or the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Act of 2022),” he said.
"Sa suporta ng liderato ng Senado ay umaasa tayong makakamit ng ating mga kababayan sa Marawi ang pondong nararapat nilang matanggap (With the support of the Senate leadership I am hopeful that we can give our fellow Filipinos who were affected by the Marawi Siege the proper compensation)," he added.
This followed the Senate’s approval of a resolution reconstituting a special committee that will oversee the continuous rehabilitation of Marawi City that was ravaged by a five-month siege in 201.
Zubiri assured Padilla of his support in giving the proper compensation to the victims, after Padilla brought up the matter.
"I will give my assurance bilang inyong Senate President na talagang ifa-follow up natin ito sa executive. At sa unang LEDAC meeting po babanggitin ko po yan as part of our priority request sa executive branch (I will give my assurance as your Senate President to follow this up with the Executive Branch. At the first LEDAC meeting I will mention this as part of our priority request to the executive branch)," Zubiri said in reply to Padilla on Monday.
Padilla stressed the need to act on the compensation for those affected by the incident in 2017.
He said many Marawi folk have been waiting for their compensation but there has been no appropriation.
"Nagbigay din po tayo ng resolusyong sana magawa na po ang Marawi Compensation Board. Kasi po ang magiging patakaran po kailangan buuin ang Board bago magkaroon ng pagbabayad sa damages na nangyari (I already filed a resolution to constitute the Marawi Compensation Board, which must be constituted before payment for damages to residents can be made)," he said.
"Hinihingi ko po sa ating kapulungan na sana maaksyunan kaagad ang pagbuo ng Board (I am asking that we act on this soonest, to constitute the board)," he added.
Earlier, Padilla filed Senate Resolution (SR) 8 where he urged the Office of the Executive Secretary to conduct the vetting process of the nominees that will compose the Marawi Compensation Board (MCB).
In his resolution, Padilla said many innocents were killed while many others lost their homes and property after terrorist groups attacked Marawi in 2017.
Last April, RA 11696 or the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Act of 2022 became law, and provided for the creation of the MCB to process compensation for the victims.
"Since the passage of RA 11696 on 13 April 2022, victims of the Marawi Siege have been clamoring for the organization of the MCB ... so it can forthwith perform its functions, organize, and promulgate the implementing rules and regulations," Padilla said.