Mayor Isko tells fire victims: Don't hurt our firemen, emergency personnel
Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso appealed to the public to never hurt firemen and other emergency responders during emergency operations after two fire volunteers were assaulted by some residents during a fire in Barangay 650, Port Area, Manila, last Oct. 17.
Domagoso made the statement during his visit to the 324 affected families, wherein he distributed financial aid to the victims on Tuesday, Oct. 21.
Families who lost their homes in the fire got P15,000 each, while those who suffered water damage got P5,000.
According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the fire volunteers were waiting for additional water supply when two men, believed to be residents of the barangay, suddenly punched them and struck them on the head with a wooden plank, forcing the volunteers to retreat.
"Sa ating mga kababayang nasunugan — pakiusap lang po, huwag natin saktan ang mga tumutulong sa atin, lalo na ang ating mga fire volunteers na nag-aapula ng apoy para iligtas tayo. Respeto lang po at pasasalamat sa kanilang sakripisyo (To our fellow countrymen who were affected by the fire — please, let's not harm those who are helping us, especially our fire volunteers who are putting out fires to save us. Please respect them as a sign of our gratitude for their sacrifice)," the mayor said.