Govt ensures continued relief ops in Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan

In the face of continued instability in Sabah, the government on Monday guaranteed that Filipinos in the provinces of Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Basilan — where many refugees from the troubled state have gone — have nothing to worry about in terms of food supply. In a statement Monday, Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman said her department is coordinating with the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the military's Western Mindanao Command, and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in order to provide the basic needs of the residents and refugees in the three provinces. “Patuloy po ang pakikipagtulungan at pakikipag-usap namin sa Regional Government of ARMM, WESTMINCOM, maging ang DILG-ARMM, para siguraduhin na sapat at natutugunan ang pangangailangnan ng ating mga kababayan sa Tawi-Tawi at Sulu. Patuloy rin po ang pagmo-monitor at assessment ng supply, lalo na ng pagkain, sa mga lugar na ito,” she said. The government has already sent a total of 1,000 sacks of rice and 1,500 food packs to Jolo, Sulu, and another 1,000 sacks of rice and 1,500 food packs to Bonggao, Tawi-Tawi, the statement said. “In addition to this, 500 food packs has also been sent to Basilan,” it added. The DSWD has also sent food packs to Turtle Island, where approximately 512 individuals who fled from Sandakan in Sabah are staying, said presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda at a briefing in Malacañang, citing information from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Meanwhile, 432 displaced individuals from Sabah have been processed by social workers from DSWD-ARMM since March 8, the statement also said. “The 432 had gone back to their respective towns. A total of PhP 500,000 has been downloaded to DSWD in Tawi-Tawi to secure that there is enough funds to support relief assistance,” the statement added, noting that requests for Sustainable Livelihood Assistance are also being facilitated for the displaced families. Abused refugees? Meanwhile, Lacierda said the administration is “still confirming” reports that several Filipinos exiting Sabah have been harassed, adding that the DSWD have included this during their stress debriefing of the affected populace. “Kasama po 'yan sa mga tinatanong sa kanila, kinakausap po ng mga social workers ang mga Pilipinong umuwi mula Sabah,” Lacierda said. The police commissioner of Sabah has denied that fleeing Pinoys have been harrassed by Malaysian authorities. “I strongly deny that. They can say anything but the focus of our operation is only in the two areas of Kampung Tanduo and Kampung Tanjung Batu,” Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib was quoted by The Star as saying. Still, Lacierda said the Philippine government, which has learned of the alleged violations through media reports, will not take the Malaysian police’s words at face value. “We are documenting these alleged reports of violation right now. The government through the DSWD will [investigate these claims,]” he said. — Patricia Denise Chiu/KBK, GMA News