Gov’t extends aid to Hilongos, Leyte explosion victims

HILONGOS, Leyte, Dec. 30 (PNA) –- Victims of the town plaza bombing got financial support from the government to help them celebrate New Year with hope.

Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino visited the town on Thursday afternoon to comfort the victims and distributed PHP3,000 financial assistance to each one of them.

This is on top of the PHP5,000 assistance received by blast victims from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

“We want their New Year to be happy despite of the incident that spoiled the holiday season,” Dino told reporters.

Mayor Albert Villahermosa said the local government will also give PHP3,000 financial aid to each victim.

Dino said that the government is very concerned of the explosion that is why President Rodrigo Duterte sent him to assess the situation of victims.

"I am here to assess what really happened and for humanitarian aspect as ordered by the President to me to check the needs of victims," Dino said.

At least six bombing victims are still confined in Hilongos District Hospital while others in Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC).

Explosion victim Domingo Oliva was among those who received financial assistance from the central government.

Oliva was with his wife, son and grandchild at the town plaza to support the boxing match of his son’s friend when two bombs exploded Wednesday night. His wife, son, and granddaughter were seriously wounded and still recuperating at the EVRMC.

“I am thankful for this financial assistance and this will help us a lot, but bombers should pay for what they had done to us," Oliva said.

Rody Bulfa, 33, who is still recovering at the town’s district hospital, feel hatred and want to chase the perpetrators of the bombing that injured 32 of his town mates.

Bulfa was with his uncle and 15 of his friends during the boxing event, one of the highlights of the town’s annual fiesta celebration.

“It’s very sad that this happened while everyone was having fun to celebrate our town fiesta,” he added.

The explosion coincided with the Feast of the Holy Innocents, a festival celebrated by Christians commemorating the massacre of the children by King Herod in his attempt to kill the infant Jesus. (PNA)
LAP/SQM/ROEL T. AMAZONA & VICKY C. ARNAIZ