North Cotabato local gov't aids children of Pinay seized by Abu Sayyaf in Malaysia

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 16): North Cotabato local gov't aids children of Pinay seized by Abu Sayyaf in Malaysia

The children of an overseas Filipino worker seized in the seaside resort in Sabah, Malaysia were given food and cash assistance by the local government of Midsayap.

All minor children of Marcelita Dayawan Tamalla are also being taken care of by workers from the social welfare and development office.

Town Councilor Morata Mantil, acting mayor of Midsayap, personally personally extended on Tuesday the food and cash assistance to Tamalla’s children, both minors, in their homes in Barangay Agriculture.

Tamalla, 33, who works at the Singmata Reef Resort in Semporna, Malaysia, was kidnapped by suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits along with Chinese national Gao Huayan from the resort more than a week ago.

At gun point, they were forced by their captors to board a motorboat that sped toward Sulu in the southernmost part of Mindanao.

Mantil said North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Mendoza has ordered the provincial social welfare office to monitor the condition of the children and provide them with the necessary psychological intervention.

Tamalla is widow of a member of the Philippine Marine Corps who died of a lingering illness more than a decade ago, which prompted her to work overseas.

Mantil said the Midsayap LGU and the office of Mendoza are now cooperating in overseeing the welfare of Tamalla’s two children, who are residing with relatives.

Mantil said the relatives are seeking the help of the national government for the immediate recovery of Tamalla.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=635756