Judys G. Cogo
Jolo, Sulu – Secretary Mar Roxas of the Department of the Interior and Local Government visited here today to personally gave immediate assistance to 110 families from Sabah, Malaysia consisting of 89 males, 109 females adult and 86 children with a total of 284 persons as of yesterday figure but since the Sabah issue erupted it reaches to more than 1,200 persons.
The 110 families arrived yesterday in
Jolo aboard a motor launch M/L Menhan from Sabah.
They arrived with fears, thirsty and
hungry including the 5 babies.
According to some deportees they were
maltreated by some Malaysian police and run for their lives when the police
sprayed their firearms at them, said a deportee in an interview..
Secretary Mar Roxas also conducted
meeting with the local government units today with the Governor Sakur Tan,
DSWD, Police and other concern agencies in order to address the issues.
They also plan to conduct orientation among
deportees to heal them from trauma while escaping Sabah. They also gave foods,
clothing and other important needs to victims.
Governor Sakur Tan expressed
disappointment over the large numbers of evacuees coming in from Sabah due to
present crisis in the place.
However, he is optimistic the problems
soon will address and Filipino in the place will be deported safely, said Tan.
Meanwhile, Secretary Roxas gave
assurance that prime commodities such as rice, gasoline, can goods and others will
be supplied.
Unfortunately the price is too high
than before, like gasoline, which before is only P40.00 and now it reaches to P45.00
per litter.
P/SSupt Antonio Freyra, provincial
director of Sulu, said the police is giving immediate assistance to evacuees by
securing their billeting areas until they will be move to their own place.
