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House panel OKs bill compensating Marawi siege victims for loss, destruction of property
The House Committee on Disaster Management on Thursday approved the substitute measure seeking to give monetary compensation for the loss or destruction of the properties of victims of the Marawi siege in 2017.
During its virtual meeting, the panel approved a consolidated version of House Bills 3418, 3543 and 3922, all seeking to compensate residents of Marawi City and affected areas in Lanao Del Sur whose properties were lost or destroyed during the months-long battle.
In filing House Bill 3543, Deputy Speaker Mujiv Hataman and Anak Mindanao party-list Representative Amihilda Sangcopan pointed out that the armed fighting did not only cause loss of life but also damaged property in Marawi City.
Around 95% of the infrastructure in the City were destroyed in the main battle area, they added.
"The bill proposes for the adoption of a compensation scheme for the damage done to the people's property, home appliances, jewelries, vehicles, machineries, rice mills, and other equipment of value, lost or damaged as a result of the Marawi siege," they said.
The three bills had sought different amounts for the compensation of the Marawi siege victims: P30 billion under House Bills 3543 and 3922, and P50 billion in House Bill 3418.
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The substitute measure, however, has yet to set an amount for the compensation of Marawi City residents, said Hataman.
"Walang ni-set na amount sa substitute bill," he told GMA News Online.
"Ang [initial] na usapan sasama sa annual GAA (General Appropriations Act) once maipasa, pero depende at possible pa magbago yan kasi isasalang pa yan sa plenary," he added.
On May 23, 2017, the ISIS-inspired Maute group attacked and destroyed Marawi City, prompting President Rodrigo Duterte to place the entire island of Mindanao under martial law.
But despite the defeat of the terrorist leaders in October that year, martial law in Mindanao was extended by Congress three times, and was only lifted on December 31, 2019. — BM, GMA News