Ombudsman steps into Pavia ‘Frank’ victims’ plaint
Lady graftbuster exec gives mayor 5-day reply-compliance
The Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas has now officially taken cognizance of last month’s Request for Assistance (RAS) submitted by residents of Barangay Anilao, Pavia, Iloilo.
All victims of last year’s devastating Typhoon Frank, the Ombudsman made official notification to Mayor Arcadio Gorriceta in a letter signed by Assistant Ombudsman for the Visayas Virginia Palanca-Santiago.
Docketed as RAS-V-ILO-09-0189, the letter cum notification came in the heels of unresolved plea for help by affected Pavia locals.
“This refers to letter of the constituents of Barangay Anilao of your municipality requesting for assistance from your good office. They alleged that they lost their houses during the Typhoon Frank and they have not received any assistance as of this date,” Assistant Ombudsman for the Visayas Santiago wrote. “In view hereof, we would like to be informed of your action taken on the concern of your constituents, preferably within five (5) days from receipt hereof.”
The letter was dated August 10, 2009 yet it was not clear when official receipt was made.
To recall, some 19 Pavia locals banded and made public its query as to when, where and what happened to the promised government assistance.
On its 14th month of “waiting period,” the victims cum complainants lost their homes at the onslaught of raging river and floodwaters in Pavia.
The group in a signed appeal addressed their concern to Assistant Secretary Raul Banias, Presidential Assistant for Western Visayas, the Office of the Ombudsman and the local media.
“Ang amon mga puluy-an naubos anud sang naglaslas nga tubig baha kag nadala sa puersa sang tubig sa Tigum River. Wala ni isa sa amon ang nakatigayon nga makasalbar bisan isa ka panapton kag gamit sa sulod sang amon panimalay (Our homes were totally damaged and washed out by the floodwaters of the overflowing Tigum River. Not one of us managed to save anything in our homes),” the letter obtained by The News Today (TNT) went.
“Pila ka adlaw matapos ang nasambit nga trahedya, ginkadtuan kami sang taga-munisipyo sang Pavia kag nagpapirma sa amon bilang biktima sang Bagyo Frank. Gindala kag ginpapirma kami sa listahan sang mga may ‘TOTALLY-DAMAGED HOUSES.” Ginsilingan kami nga sa masunod nga 45 dias, may maabot nga bulig pinansyal para sa amon kag amon pamilya. (Days after the tragedy, we were approached by someone from the municipal government of Pavia and made to sign that we were indeed victims of Typhoon Frank with totally damaged houses. We were also told that in the next 45 days help will come for us and our families.)”
Unfortunately, as the group pointed out, tenfolds of said 45 days have since passed with not a single centavo in government help came.
“Kami nagapamangkot kung ano na naabtan sang pirma namon bilang mga biktima sang Bagyo Frank (We are now seeking clarification on what happened to our signatures as victims of Typhoon Frank),” the letter continued. “Sa pila namon ka beses nga balik-balik sa Munisipyo sang Pavia, ilabi na sa amon mayor nga si Mayor Arcadio Gorriceta, kami ginhambalan nga wala siya labot sa bulig nga gina-paabot namon (In the several instances we followed up our concern in the Municipality of Pavia particularly though our Mayor Arcadio Gorriceta, we were told he has nothing to do with the government help we are expecting.)”.
Signatories were Rosemarie Jimena, Luisa Miravelles, Maricar Ganila, Leticia Pagulong, Rosalie Gagante, Dyna Gajardo, Rofelia Gagante and Ronald Agrabio. Included as well were Concepcion Castor, Luciano Gagante, Catherine Pagulong, Gina Comoda, Nelfa Barnizo, Alma Suyo, Ma. Teresa Jamolin, Morena Dolor, Jesus Gagante, Nelson Hubag and Juliet Albaracin.