STAR’s Damayan extends aid to Fallen44 families

MANILA, Philippines - With the death of her husband Special Action Force (SAF) commando PO3 Andres Viernes Duque Jr., Melanie is left to look after their three children, the youngest barely four months old.

Duque is one of 44 SAF commandos killed by members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Bangsamoro Islamic Liberation Front (BIFF) in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last Jan. 25 while they were on a mission to arrest two notorious terrorists.

While coping with the pain of losing her husband, Melanie now faces the huge responsibility of raising daughters Nicole Andrelein, 13, Nadine Althea, 12, and son Nathaniel Andrew Lian.

The Duque family is one of the SAF families to benefit from assistance extended by Operation Damayan, the socio-humanitarian arm of The STAR, last Wednesday. The assistance comes from more than P2.8 million in donations gathered by The STAR from readers, employees and friends.

Melanie and her three children received a check from representatives of Operation Damayan during the formal turnover of the financial assistance.

“Thank you po. Na-appreciate po namin itong ganitong tulong (We appreciate this help),” she said.

The fund drive was initiated by The STAR in recognition of the sacrifice made by SAF commandos while they were on a mission to arrest Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and Filipino cohort Basit Usman.

Ten-year old Glenville William Bedua was also grateful when he received his family’s share in the donations raised by The STAR through its #SaluteToThe44 fund drive.

“Thank you for all the help,” was all he could say as he fought back tears.

Glenville is one of the children of SAF commando PO2 Glenn Berecio Bedua, who was also killed during the firefight.

According to his mother Wilma, Glenville is emotional and easily cries.

“When we were paying our last respects to his dad in a church in Leyte, he was called to go to the podium near the coffin to say something. He went to the podium, held the microphone but he started to cry and could not say anything. Everyone in church cried with him,” she recalled.

The overflowing expressions of gratitude and respect shown by countless people for the ultimate sacrifice made by the 44 SAF heroes, Wilma said, are a balm to their hearts.

“We really appreciate what you’ve done for us,” she said as she, Glenville and families of the 44 SAF heroes shared a simple dinner hosted by The STAR.

The STAR launched its fund raising effort for the gallant SAF men last Jan. 31, barely a week after they lost their lives in the encounter in Mamapasano.

Generous readers, families, friends and employees of The STAR warmly responded by putting in a total of P2.8 million. The amount was equally divided among the families of the 44 SAF heroes, allowing them to get P64,000 each.

Alejandro Castillo, a donor, told The STAR, “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. 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.”

Aside from cash, The STAR also prepared a bag of giveaways for the families, which Operation Damayan lead coordinator Emie Cruz and other volunteers handed to the families during the event.

According to Cruz, no words can express how donors of the fund drive appreciate the gallantry of the 44 SAF heroes.

“We salute their courage and thank them for their sacrifice,” said The STAR president and CEO Miguel Belmonte.

Fifty-nine-year-old Rohirmina Asjali, mother of slain PO3 Jedz-In Abubakar Asjali, attended the event with her other son, Ibrahim.

“Thank you very much,” she said with a smile, although the pain of losing her son was evident in her eyes.

Victoria, mother of Senior Inspector John Garry Alcantara Erana, said they are also grateful that The STAR made an effort for the welfare of the families of SAF 44.

The dinner hosted by The STAR coincided with the PNP Welfare Service for Beneficiaries of SAF 44 organized by the Philippine National Police (PNP) at Camp Crame.

Families of the slain 44 SAF men were assisted by attending officers in all their concerns relating to requirements in claiming their benefits from the PNP, the National Police Commission and other financial institutions providing assistance to them.

The STAR also provided tokens for the attending officers who comforted the families of the slain SAF men shortly after their remains arrived at the Villamor Airbase.

“On behalf of the of the families of SAF 44, we thank The Philippine STAR for the financial help and the dinner. We really appreciate the effort,” said Senior Inspector Juanito Dizon, the attending officer for the family of PO1 Oliebeth Ligutan Viernes.

Dizon was a classmate of a brother of Viernes’ wife Virgie during their cadet days in the Philippine National Police Academy.

He said assisting the families of the 44 SAF heroes is an honor for them, in appreciation of the sacrifice of their fallen colleagues.