COTABATO CITY – The families of a Teduray farmer and three others, who perished after they were swept by rampaging waters in a river traversing an upland town in Maguindanao, received on Thursday financial assistance from the provincial government.
Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu handed over the PHP100,000 worth of financial aid to the family members of Ronaldo Moalik, of Barangay Rifao; and that of Linda Modunggel of Barangay Bantek, both in Upi town. The other victims were Modunggel’s two children.
Moalik and the Modunggels were separately swept by rampaging waters of Bantek River during a heavy downpour last Aug. 5. Moalik, a farmer, drowned while trying to cross the river with a sack of farm products on his shoulders.
The Modunggels, on the other hand, lost mother Linda, and her two kids, Melanie, 11, and Ritchel, 1.
They were crossing the river on a footbridge when they all fell and swept away by the strong water current. All the victims’ bodies were later recovered one after another a few kilometers away downstream.
The grieving families had earlier appealed to Mangudadatu for financial assistance so they can provide a decent burial for their loved ones. (Edwin Fernandez/PNA)
