News Release

OPAPRU joins BARMM officials in extending aid to MSU bombing victims



The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) assisted the Bangsamoro government in extending assistance to the victims and families of the December 3 Mindanao State University bombing in Marawi City that resulted in several casualties.

A day after the bomb explosion at the Dimaporo Gymnasium of the Mindanao State University Main Campus, Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. joined BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Al-Hadj Murad Ebrahim, executives from the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) and other Bangsamoro government agencies to visit the victims recuperating in hospitals.

Joining them were MSU President Atty. Basari Mapupuno, and Gov. Abdulraof Macacua of Maguindanao del Norte.

Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. welcomed the visiting officials.

Six patients admitted at the Amai Pakpak Medical Center (APMC) each received Php25,000 through MSSD’s Bangsamoro Critical Assistance for Indigents in Response to Emergency Situations (B-CARES) program for their medical and basic needs.

The assistance provided to the victims was also in accordance with Ebrahim’s directive to the MSSD to provide them immediate support.

On December 3, three of the 17 injured patients brought at the MSU Infirmary received Php5,000 each for transportation, while 14 patients were provided Php 2,000 each for their medical needs.

Separately, the MSSD workforce led by Minister Raissa Jajurie proceeded to Iligan City and visited the families of those who died in the bombing and handed over cash assistance from the BARMM agency.

The respective families of two of the deceased victims received Php50,000 each.

On another occasion, the MSSD provincial office in Lanao del Sur B also provided the same amount to one of the families of the deceased.

Adelaida Mohamad Ali, the MSSD’s Provincial Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, said MSSD social workers will conduct mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) for MSU-Main Campus Marawi students.

There will also be an assessment of deceased victims’ families to determine interventions they can avail from the ministry, she added.

Earlier, university officials, national and regional and provincial agencies, as well as personnel from the security sector held a meeting and conducted on-site inspection at the Dimaporo Gymnasium. PND