Family members of slain soldiers receive financial assistance

FORT BONIFACIO, Taguig City – The families of the slain soldiers who died during an ambush staged by the New People’s Army rebels in Ifugao will receive a special financial assistance from the government, a military official said.

Major Harold Cabunoc, the Army Spokesperson, said that at least P500,000.00 worth of financial benefits, will be received by the families of the fallen soldiers.

Included in this package of benefits is the financial grant from the Presidential Management Staff amounting to P250,000.00.

Lieutenant General Emmanuel  Bautista, the Army Chief, has arrived at the Army’s 5^th Infantry Division headquarters at around 3 pm today to personally condole with the families and hand-over the checks coming from the Philippine Army

Each family of the dead soldier will receive an amount ranging from P106,975.20 and P124,162.02 for the enlisted personnel, to P257,971.92 for the lone officer who died in that ambush. This amount was taken from the Army's Pension and Gratuity Assistance Branch.

In addition to that, the families will likewise receive P50, 000.00 from the Armed Forces and Police Mutual Benefit Association, Inc (AFPMBAI), and a financial assistance from the Philippine Army Finance Center Producers Integrated Cooperative (PAFCPIC), if the battle casualty is a member of said financial institution.

The Army has also committed to provide another P50,000.00 worth of financial assistance for the funeral services of the soldiers.

The post chapel and mortuary of the Libingan ng mga Bayani will also be made available for those who intend to have their soldier-relative interred in the said burial facility.

Other than the financial assistance, the AFP Educational Benefit System Office (AFP EBSO) will be extending scholarship grants to qualified dependents. The scholars can take courses in the school of their choice, provided that the school is a partner of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the scholarship program.

Meanwhile, the soldiers who incurred major wounds will receive P100,000 and those with minor wounds are entitled to P50,000.00.

“The Army will ensure that the morale and welfare of every soldier and his family are well taken cared of. The Army will also give appropriate burial honors to these new breed of heroes who offered the ultimate sacrifice in the service of the country,” said Cabunoc.