07/12/2023
MSU blast victims receive BARMM medical and burial aid
By Ali G. Macabalang
MARAWI CITY – Victims in the recent bomb explosion at the Dimaporo gym of the Mindanao State University main campus have received assistance from the Bangsamoro autonomous regional government shortly after the tragedy.
Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod “Hadji Murad” Ebrahim alongside members of his cabinet visited the six critically injured among 49 wounded victims at the Amai Pakpak Medical Center (APMC) here, giving them P25,000 cash aid each for their medical expenses on December 4.
A day earlier, a strong explosion of still unknown origin rocked the university gym (named after the late former Lanao del Sur governor and MSU president Ali Dimaporo) while Catholic students, faculty and administrative employees were holding a Sunday mass in the morning.
The blast instantly left three fatalities and 50 wounded victims. A critically wounded student died while undergoing treatment at the APMC here a few hours later, according to police, military and civilian authorities, who have staged separate investigations on the incident.
The blast spawned strong condemnation from Chief Minister Ebrahim and his cabinet members through separate statements. Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal “Bombit” Adiong Jr. and his brother First District Rep. Zia Adiong had issued indignation statements earlier, calling for an in-depth probe on the incident.
CM Ebrahim was accompanied in the visit by his cabinet members, among them Ministers Paisalin “Popoy” Tago of transportation and communication, and Raissa Jajurie of social welfare. Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr of the Office of Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) and Maguindanao del Norte Abdulraof Macacua joined his entourage.
Gov. Adiong and MSU President Basari Mapupuno alongside local officials received the visitors and accompanied them in visiting the wounded patients at the APMC here.
On instruction of CM Ebrahim, Minister Jajurie proceeded to Iligan City to also provide cash assistance for other victims in the blast. Families of the deceased victims were given P50,000 burial assistance, while the slightly injured others received cash amounts for their medicines and transportation, it was learned.
The cash aids came from the Ministry of Social Services and Development’s Bangsamoro Critical Assistance for Indigents in Response to Emergency Situations (B-CARES) program, according to ministry information officer Al-Jabbar Musa.
Jasmin Luciro, a 52-year-old MSU-Main Campus staff member and blast victim, expressed gratitude, hoping that BARMM assistance “will continue in any way possible,” according to Musa.
MSSD social workers launched Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) for MSU-Main Campus Marawi students, conducting also an assessment of deceased victims' families to determine interventions they can avail from the Ministry, said Adelaida Mohammad Ali, Provincial Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of MSSD Lanao del Sur. #
(Photo attachments derived from the MSSD show Chief Ministert Ahod “Hadji Murad” Ebrahim and some cabinet members in a visit to one of the blast victims, and Minister Raissa Jajurie talking to a medical attendant of another wounded victim.)
