President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has issued a directive to simplify the process of providing assistance to the families of uniformed personnel who die in the line of duty.
The Commander-in-Chief issued this directive at Camp Aguinaldo today in line with the commemoration of Araw ng Kagitingan and simultaneously facilitated the distribution of aid through the Comprehensive Social Benefits Program.
Marcos spearheaded the distribution of half a million pesos to 62 beneficiaries of the program, which was established through Executive Order 110 under the previous administration.
Although the president is only continuing the said program, he has ordered a simplified claims process for the families of the deceased, as many have reportedly struggled with application due to document-related issues.
“Lahat ng pamilya na nawalan ng mahal sa buhay ay mabigyan ng kanilang benepisyo sa pinakamadaling panahon at sisimulan po natin ngayong araw,” Marcos said in his speech.
Included in the 62 personnel are members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) who were 'killed in action.'
Also among them are the two Philippine Air Force (PAF) pilots who died in the Bukidnon air crash on March 4.
According to the sibling of 1st Lt. A-J Dadulla, one of the two deceased airmen, they will coordinate with the PAF to clarify the results of the investigation released regarding the incident.
The sibling of 1st Lt. A-J Dadulla, one of the two airmen killed, stated that they will coordinate with the PAF to seek clarification on the results of the investigation released regarding the incident.
PAF spokesperson Col. Bon Castillo earlier revealed that the crash was not caused by a technical or mechanical failure.
Instead, it was due to a combination of factors, such as the challenges of a night flight in a mountainous area and the simultaneous operation of multiple aircraft during combat operations.
