Aquino meets with SAF troopers, installs new chief

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) - Over a month after the anti-terror operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao left 44 troopers dead, President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday met again with members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) and installed their new chief.

Aquino witnessed the formal installation of Chief Superintendent Moro Virgilio Lazo as new acting SAF chief during a simple ceremony at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

Lazo replaced Chief Superintendent Noli Taliño, who assumed command as acting SAF commander following the relief of Director Getulio Napeñas over the bungled Mamasapano operation.

Lazo and Taliño belong to Philippine Military Academy Class ’84.

Acting PNP Director General Leonardo Espina recommended the appointment of Lazo, which was approved by Aquino and Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II.

Before the change of command rites, Aquino met with SAF troopers whose comrades joined the January 25 Mamasapano operation aimed at capturing suspected terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, also known as Marwan and Abdul Basit Usman.

Aquino first met with SAF troopers on January 30 after the necrological services for the 44 slain commandos and his meeting with their relatives.

In his speech back then, Aquino tried to connect with the grieving cops by recalling how he survived an ambush in 1987 that killed three of his bodyguards.

But netizens pointed out that the elite policemen gave Aquino the cold shoulder during his speech.

WATCH: SAF troopers' 'cold shoulder treatment' on Aquino

Aquino recently met with the families of the fallen 44 SAF troopers but he allegedly scolded them during a dialogue.

READ: PNoy never said 'tabla-tabla tayo' to SAF kin, Palace says