TO defend the country and bring honor to fellow soldiers who were killed in the Marawi siege, is the greatest reward that 1st Lieutenant Christopher Montecillo has received.
Montecillo, of barangay Talamban, Cebu City, was one of the few soldiers who survived in the war against the Maute group in Marawi.
He was among those who received the financial assistance from the Cebu City government yesterday at the Plaza Independencia, where a Mass and the offering of flowers were also held for the fallen soldiers.
The city government has allocated P10.2 million for the distribution of cash aid worth P78,000 to each of the 157 families and relatives of soldiers who were either killed or wounded in gunbattle.
So far, only 46 families received the P78,000 cash assistance yesterday.
Furthermore, the city will be sending the cash aid to the other families in Luzon and Mindanao who were not present during the distribution, Catherine Yso, secretary of the Office of the Mayor said.
“By January, hopefully, madawat na gyud sa tanang families kay for now, we are having holidays and it would take us time to send all these money to the rest of the families,” she said.
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said the city is also willing to give jobs to the families of the fallen soldiers.
“I asked them if they need a job but most of them said they could not leave their children,” Osmeña said.
This Christmas is so sad. When you see them, they’re alone. How will their Christmas be like? But at least we’re doing our share in Cebu,” the mayor added.