Lanao del Sur First District Rep. Ziaur-Rahman Alonto-Adiong (left). (File photo)
MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon – Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Ziaur-Rahman Alonto-Adiong has expressed support for civilian groups in asserting the West Philippine Sea (WPS) territories.
In a statement on Friday, Adiong said even ordinary citizens have bravely shown their nationalism by upholding the WPS as part of the Philippine territory.
"This shows that the ordinary civilian, especially the ordinary fisherfolk, supports this administration and the President in pushing for our rights," he said.
Adiong said it is the civic duty of every Filipino who loves this country to support the administration's push for our rights over the WPS, citing its rights based on the adjudicated Arbitral Tribunal favoring the Philippines.
Earlier this week, a fleet of primarily small boats under a civilian coalition, "Atin Ito," traveled to deliver fuel and food packs to Filipino fisherfolk at the Bajo de Masinloc in the WPS area.
"We are moved by the actions of these ordinary Filipinos and wish them a safe journey," Adiong said.
Marawi siege commemoration
Meanwhile, Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman has expressed her solidarity in commemorating the seventh anniversary of the Marawi City siege on May 23.
"Seven years after the Battle of Marawi, we remember the lives lost, the sacrifices, and the monumental challenges faced during the harrowing ordeal. We honor the bravery of our soldiers, the perseverance of our displaced families, and the unwavering spirit of the Marawi people," she said in a statement on Friday.
Pangandaman said the 2024 General Appropriations Act has allocated PHP1 billion for the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Fund to compensate for lost structures, personal properties, and families of those who perished during the conflict.
"Other development partners and local bodies, including a Special Committee on Marawi City Rehabilitation and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), have played crucial roles in recovery efforts," she said. (PNA)
