Highest congressional honors sought for SAF 44

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives has been urged to bestow the highest congressional honor and Medal of Valor on 44 policemen who died in a clash with Muslim rebels in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last month.

In Resolution No. 1866, Las Piñas Rep. Mark Villar said “the fallen members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) exhibited extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of duty” so bestowing the highest honor is in order.

Pangasinan Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil also pushed for the awarding of the Medal of Valor, the highest award that could be given to a police officer.

Under Republic Act 9049, a Medal of Valor awardee will be entitled to a lifetime monthly gratuity of P20,000 while his or her children will be given scholarships to the Philippine Military Academy and Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA).

Bataoil, a former PNP director, said police officials were expecting the government to award the slain SAF members with the Medal of Valor but they were only granted the Bravery Medal, the fourth highest award.

He noted that President Aquino promised to help the families of the 44 policemen and granting the Medal of Valor “is the most strategic move.”

“Mr. President, this will keep your promise to the families – long after you have retired from office because this is guaranteed by our law,” Bataoli told his colleagues on the floor Tuesday night.

Quezon City Rep. Christopher Belmonte, for his part, said that all the 392 SAF members involved in the Mamasapano operation should be commended.

“Each and everyone of the 392 or so SAF men who took part in Operation Wolverine, including the 12 who were wounded, is a hero. And each and everyone of them deserves the nation’s commendation and gratitude,” he said.

The House is also raising P3 million for the families of the slain SAF members.

In a resolution filed earlier, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II, Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora and Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona urged the 290 House members to contribute at least P10,000 each for the bereaved families.

Netizens: Name streets after SAF men

Netizens are also urging Congress to pass a measure that will name streets after the 44 slain SAF members.

More than 1,000 individuals have signed the petition filed on Change.org (http://chn.ge/1zQYrJw ). Copies of the petition will be forwarded to the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Glenn Valero, who started the petition, said there is no better way to honor the heroism of the slain police officers than to name streets after them.

One supporter noted that such move would institute recall and ensure that their names will not be forgotten.

“Their names and memory should be immortalized, just like the boy scouts who perished in a plane crash in the ’60s,” said Jose Antonio Principe.

Streets in Barangay Laging Handa in Quezon City were named after members of the Philippine contingent who died in the plane crash en route to the 11th Boy Scouts Jamboree in Greece in 1963.

User Pia Ramos, meanwhile, took a swipe at government officials who put their names in infrastructure projects funded by public funds.

“Let’s honor people who did their duty and sacrificed their lives for the country, instead of naming streets, schools and public property after thieving, egomaniacal hypocrites who plaster their names and faces all over infrastructure we paid for,” she said.

Provinces honor slain SAF men

The province of Bulacan has declared the 44 slain SAF men as heroes.

Gov. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado yesterday signed a resolution declaring them as heroes and the Sanguniang Panglalawigan passed it.

In Banaue, mumbakis (tribal priests) yesterday conducted hours of rituals at the peak of a mountain overlooking the house of SPO3 Robert Allaga, a slain Ifugao member of the SAF.

The mumbakis call the ritual himong, a vengeance prayer for “forced death” just like the death of Allaga and two other Ifugao in the SAF, PO2 Franklin Danao and PO2 Joel Dulnuan. 

In Sultan Kudarat, officials yesterday observed a day of mourning for PO2 Roger Cordero, who was among the fallen 44 SAF men and came from the province. The municipal government also gave financial assistance to the Cordero family.

In Davao del Norte, the remains of SPO1 Lover Inocencio were laid to rest yesterday in his hometown Panabo City. Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and other provincial officials attended the funeral. A gun salute was also accorded to Inocencio.

Prayer rally disallowed in Caraga

In Butuan City, the Philippine National Police Academy Alumni Association Caraga chapter expressed dismay over the PNP-Caraga leadership after it allegedly did not allow them to conduct a motorcade and prayer rally for six of their colleagues who died in the clash in Mamasapano.

Chief Inspector Sandro Santillan, president of the local chapter of the  PNPA Alumni Association, told The STAR the entire PNP alumni group was upset with PNP Caraga regional director Chief Superintendent David Yalung Ombao’s decision.

Santillan explained the alumni group only wanted to express grief and concern over the slaughter of the 44 SAF members.  – With Janvic Mateo, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Ric Sapnu, Ben Serrano, Eva Visperas, Ramil Bajo, Edith Regalado, Victor Martin