Sen. Robinhood Padilla urged the government to take every possible course of action in looking for ways to fund compensation programs for victims of the 2017 Marawi Siege.

During his interpellation on Tuesday night, November 14, on the budget of the Marawi Compensation Board, Padilla said authorities have no time to lose because the threat of terrorism still looms if the victims are stuck in poverty.

"Ito terorismo na nakapasok sa ating bansa at ito ay foreign at ito di nawawala ang threat. Nandito pa ang threat na ito. Hanggang ang pinangako natin na mga makukuha nilang masasabi nating compensation sa gobyerno hanggang di natin nabibigay, lumalakas ang threat na yan sapagka’t yan ang gagamitin ng mga terorista para kumbinsihin pa ang mga bata kasi ang karamihan sa naimpluwensyahan ng teroristang ito mga bata, sila ang kinamkam ang pagiisip at naniwala sa ideology na terorismo (The threat from the foreign terrorist group that entered our country has not gone away. So long as we do not give the victims the compensation due them, the terrorist threat may strengthen because terrorists will influence people still stuck in poverty, especially the youths)," he said.

"Hindi ito usapin ng pulitika o batas, usapan ito ng pagiging magkakapatid... Pinaguusapan natin dito faith, pananampalataya natin, brotherhood, sisterhood. Hirap ang national government na humanap ng pera, paabutin ba natin sa punto na ang kapatid natin maghihintay parang kawawa, meron naman tayong pera (This is not a matter of politics or legalities. This is a matter of brotherhood and of faith, brotherhood and sisterhood. The national government is having a hard time finding sources of funds. But will we allow our brethren to suffer if there is a chance of finding funds for them)?" he added.

He added that in his talks with the Marawi Compensation Board, its P1-billion budget may not be enough because the amount may be spent in three to four months.

Padilla urged the government to explore other sources of funding, including P6 billion in unprogrammed funds, for compensation efforts.

Also, he stressed that authorities must make sure those affected by the 2017 siege are given means of livelihood. He said it would be good to explore non-monetary programs being drawn up by the MCB, especially in coordination with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao's Ministry of Social Welfare and Development.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who is sponsoring the MCB budget, noted the MCB plans to provide recipients of the compensation with financial literacy skills training.

Hontiveros also said they are exploring additional resources for the MCB so it can fulfill its mandate, even as the MCB is also ensuring compensation for non-Muslim victims of the siege. So far, she said almost 90 percent of death claims are for non-Muslim laborers.

The first batch of recipients of monetary awards involve death claims, and a commemorative program has been organized to give the first batch of awards - timed with the anniversary of Marawi's liberation.