STAR’s SAF44 fund nears P2 M

MANILA, Philippines - Donations continued to pour in yesterday for the families of the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) policemen who laid down their lives in a firefight with the Moro Islamic Liberation Force (MILF) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on Jan. 25.

New donations received yesterday by The STAR’s social arm, Operation Damayan, reached P621,200, bringing the total funds raised to P1.92 million, or almost P44,000 for each of the 44 families whose lives have been unsettled by the unfortunate encounter in Maguindanao.

The STAR’s #SaluteToThe44 received the following new donations: P200,000 from Sahara Management & Development Corp. president Danilo and Ma. Lina Santiago; P100,000 from Consul Eduardo and Julieta de Guzman, owners of Sky Freight Forwarders Inc.; P60,000 from Alejandro and Marilena Castillo; P13,200 from V.C.; P10,000 each from Alab ng Mamamahayag (ALAM), F&VA and J.D.; P5,000 each from Sandra Clemente, J.L., Ma. Cecilia Zamudio and Henry
Angeles; P4,000 from Kennedy Ong; P2,000 from Charito Estrada; and P194,000 from various anonymous benefactors.

In an email, donor Alejandro Castillo said, “My wife and I are outraged by the massacre of our PNP-SAF men and the manner in which the wounded were reportedly finished off by elements of the MILF/BIFF. It did not help that our leadership apparently mismanaged this operation and its aftermath.”

“While the investigations to ferret out the truth are ongoing, we would like to channel our emotions productively by showing our sympathy and compassion for the families of our fallen police officers. Thank you for initiating this fund drive. Your helpful efforts are much appreciated,” he added.

As it wraps up its fund drive this week, The STAR has obtained from the PNP a list of legal beneficiaries of the heroes of Mamasapano and are looking to turn over the donations to them in the coming week. The list shows that many of them left behind their parents or a wife who now grieve the loss of a son, husband or father.

For those interested to donate, contributions to #SaluteToThe44 will be accepted until Friday, Feb. 6, through The Philippine STAR Operation Damayan savings account no. 151-7-15152422-9, Metrobank Aduana branch. Deposits may be confirmed via tel. no. 336-9598, email [email protected] , or fax no. 527-6857.