Haiyan Survivors Slam PH Government and Media for Hypocrisy
In the wake of super typhoon Haiyan, there had been news about the survivors looting in desperation for food and water due to local relief operations and foreign aids being hampered by inaccessible roads and storm debris. Media had been saying that people were already exhibiting hostile behaviour while government officials kept saying that they face obstacles in bringing in supplies for the victims.
However, some of the Filipinos who survived typhoon Haiyan slammed the Philippine Government, including President Aquino, and the local media about how they twist details, lied to the outsiders and provide hyped information - giving an aura of total hypocrisy.
One Haiyan survivor penned a brutally honest open letter addressed to Philippine President Benigno Aquino.
"AT A TIME WHEN PEOPLE ARE DESPERATE FOR A LEADER THAT WILL SEND THEM A MESSAGE TO PICK UP THEIR BROKEN SPIRITS;
AT A TIME WHEN PEOPLE NEEDED ASSURANCES THAT YOU HAVE THEIR BACKS; THE ONLY THING YOU GAVE THEM, WAS A BIG "@#$%%^ YOU TACLOBAN, THIS IS YOUR FAULT, DON'T BLAME ME.", Biboy Alimangohan wrote.
This was in response to the President's statement that Tacloban did not do all necessary precautions to avoid casualties.
"The best leaders throughout history aren't remembered because they prevented huge disasters, they are remembered because when disaster inevitably struck, they inspired and rallied the people. I'm sorry Mr. President, but you failed us. You failed the people of Bohol, Cebu, Leyte, Samar, Biliran, Masbate and all the other provinces that had to face the last few disasters.
On a final note, that "casualty count" you so callously keep referring to? That's not just a number to us. That "casualty count" are family, friends, and neighbors that we will never see again. People we loved and cared about that we will never be able to laugh with or share a drink with.
What we need from you right now, Mr. President, is an outstretched hand, not a big middle finger."
Another survivor from Tacloban said there are a hundred towns in Leyte, but the relief operations were only focused in Tacloban. Yes, people are starving. However, media people who were reporting about the dismal situation in the area did not really know what they were talking about because they were only staying at the airport.
The survivor said that even military personnel were nonchalant about their situation. Together with her family, they tried to stop an empty military truck to ask for a ride in the nearest town where they could get supply of water and food. But, the truck driven by a soldier just passed them by.
She said that although there had been looting, there had been no violence inflicted against each other. They were simply hungry because the local government kept saying that relief operations are being hampered by transportation problems when roads were already passable.
"Kindly write something and post it on FB... RELIEF GOODS ARE NOT BEING WELL DISTRIBUTED. NO RESCUE TEAM. HENCE, STILL NO FOOD, WATER, GAS AND BASIC NECESSITIES HERE. PEOPLE ARE STARVING BUT NOT KILLING EACH OTHER, SO PLS STOP THAT BULLSHIT NEWS. I HAVE TO VOLUNTARILY SHARE MY FOOD AND THEY WOULD THANK ME. SOME WOULD OFFER US A RIDE."
She said that even military authorities are staying at the airport instead of going out and helping the people.
She said that media were exaggerating news that survivors were swarming around people and cars who they thought have food with them.
"I'VE BEEN WALKING FOR 2 DAYS NOW, WITH WATER AND FOOD," but nobody harassed her, she posted.
She said that survivors were deprived of boxes and boxes of water and food kept inside a government office because it was for the consumption of the military officials.
Another Haiyan survivor condemned those who easily pointed judging fingers to the looters.
"I looted medicine for the red cross, milk and food for the children. Walked 4 hours and dug into 2 foot empty plastic bottles to get at least something to drink and bring back some. The people who took flat screen tv's were the same people who offered to give me a drink and some lugaw (porridge). Those who looked like ex-convicts offered me something to eat. Almost all the time they are willing to lend a hand when you said you really need something. What they didn't show on the news was how people were helping each other amidst the catastrophe."
The survivor said that media people and politicians are a "piece of shit." He named Department of Local Interior and Government Secretary, Mar Roxas as one these "shit."
"Mar Roxas and his body guards never helped us retrieve families trapped on the cottages on the hotel that we were staying or assisted in helping the wounded. They just walked around clean [and] tidy as if they couldn't be bothered."
"Ted Failon (a local big-wig broadcaster) ate a hearty meal while some children barely had anything to eat and slept in comfy beds while children slept on marble floors. Love Anover (another anchor) panicked and asked us to go downtown to get military assistance like they were someone special. You don't hear those on the news do you? It's all about what was recorded on the shot."
"It might look like chaos, I guess that was what they want to show you, but there are police patrols, I personally went to the police station and ask about the rumors of hostility, they told us that it's not true as they have not received any news about it. Dont think for once that they are not doing their jobs, their manpower is spread so thin why? Because some of them are dead."