Cotabato evacuee found to have war shock

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines — A priest on Wednesday appealed for volunteer counselors for "war shock" victims to come forward and help the evacuees of North Cotabato province. Father Eduardo Vazques, head of the Inter-Religious Dialogue of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI), said one of the evacuees have been diagnosed to have war shock and that there could be more such victims. Vazques identified the victim as Marlon Dantes, a 20-year-old student and one of the thousands of evacuees who were crammed inside the municipal gymnasium in Pikit town. He said Dantes was observed to have lost his mind after he and other villagers were forced to leave their homes in barangay Silik when fighting between the government troops and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) intensified last weekend. Vazques said Dantes left Silik on Sunday morning amid the sound of gunfire as soldiers pursued the rebels. The priest said Dantes apparently got separated from his family and he was brought to the evacuation center by a neighbor. “Kung kakausapin mo siya, sasagot naman ng matino pero habang tumatagal, kahit ano na lang ang sinasabi. Madalas niyang sinasambit ang mga katagang ‘intelligent’ at ‘traydor’ at minsan parang nagagalit. Na-warshock na talaga ito," Vazques said. Meanwhile, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board) of North Cotabato passed a resolution urging the provincial government to grant financial assistance to those severely affected by the conflict. The resolution urged Governor Jesus Sacdalan to give 50,000 pesos to each family of residents who died after getting caught in the crossfire, 30,000 pesos for each family who lost their farm animals, 20,000 pesos for those who were wounded and 10,000 pesos each for those whose houses were burned by rebels. Beneficiaries will have to go through a validation process before the financial assistance be given to them. Vice Governor Emmanuel Piñol also asked the governor to recognize the efforts of the civilian volunteers (who died while defending their lives and properties against MILF rebels. “These civilian volunteers should be hailed as heroes and their families must be honored. I will work for their award and recognition during the province’s foundation later this month," Piñol said. - GMANews.TV