Capiz Yolanda victims turn to Pope on govt neglect

Roxas City

January 16, 2015
(Photos by Bayan-Capiz)

Political persecution hounds Yolanda victim in Capiz. Not only are relief goods from government inadequate and slow in coming to them: they are also under threats as offshoot of red-scaring tactics of government officials.

They raise that issue up today at the rally staged by Bayan-Capiz here, their way of welcoming Pope Francis who they call "The People's Pope."

Their colleagues in Bayan-Panay also held similar protest action this morning in Iloilo City.

On top of local officials red-tagging them, battle-ready PNP and Army patrols further sound off that the villagers are “suspected members” in the rebel movement because they get aid from “leftist” NGOs and they join protest actions.

More than 10,000 Yolanda victims trooped in Roxas City and other town centers to denounce government inaction December 10, also celebrated nation wide International Human Rights Day.

Bayan-Panay's Hope Hervilla bewails that relief goods, coursed through barangay officials hardly reached the victims because of “political patronage” and sheer “political vendetta”.

She said: “They brand the victims 'NPAs', 'communists', 'members' of Bayan and Gabriela and demand that they disassociate themselves as sine-qua-non to getting relief goods from government.”

Now, government is dangling “housing assistance” to entice victims away from rallies and other mass actions. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) promises P30,000 per family who completely lost their houses to the supertyphoon that lashed the Visayas November 8, 2013.

Yolanda packed the wind fury of 250 kilometers per hour.

Those whose houses are partially damaged have P10,000 each family, goes the DSWD flyer.

“Commies” and “NPAs” and members of the likes of Bayan and Gabriela will get no housing assistance though. Local officials further threaten Yolanda victims in Capiz to have their “4Ps” cut-off should they continue joining anti-government rallies.

“4Ps” or the “P-Noy Pantawid Pamilya Program”, Pres. Pnoy Aquino's version of “Conditional Cash Transfer” of his predecessor Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, doles out cash to families categorized as “indigents”, P500 – P1,000 monthly. The program is largely suspected though as strategy to hide thievery in government.