Cayetano to gov't: Marawi siege victims need fair, just compensation
At A Glance
- Sen. Alan Cayetano warned that if the government recompenses victims using outdated property values, it will only deepen the injustice felt by Marawi residents. Thus, he said, the government should pursue a "creative solution" that would allow for fairer valuations.
Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano has renewed his call for fair and just compensation for the victims of the 2017 Marawi siege, as the Senate Committee on Finance reviews the proposed 2026 budget of the Marawi Compensation Board (MCB).
During its budget briefing in the Senate on Tuesday, September 23, the MCB disclosed that it originally requested P4.279 billion for 2026, but the President’s proposed budget only allocated P1.228 billion.
This is just 28.71 percent of the amount sought, or a P3.05 billion shortfall, of which was intended for the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Fund.
This funding gap, the senator said, highlights the need for a more creative and realistic compensation system that considers the actual cost of replacing or repairing destroyed properties.
“The point of compensation is to return them to their situation before the Marawi war,” Cayetano said.
During the Senate finance committee hearing, the MCB reported that as of September 2025, it had already approved P3.28 billion worth of claims covering 1,915 beneficiaries, and committed to finish all compensation releases by 2028 if additional funds are allocated.
The lawmaker warned that if the government recompenses victims using outdated property values, it will only deepen the injustice felt by Marawi residents.
Because of this, he said the government should pursue a “creative solution” that would allow for fairer valuations.
“I am confident that if we present a creative and well-thought-out compensation strategy, we can gain the support of our President and fellow members of Congress,” Cayetano said.
“This is about giving them a fair chance to restore what they lost and move forward,” he stressed.