SAF commandos get posthumous promotion

MANILA, Philippines - The 44 Special Action Force (SAF) police commandos killed in a firefight with Muslim rebels in Mamasapano on Jan. 25 were given posthumous meritorious promotion by the National Police Commission (Napolcom), Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II said yesterday.

Roxas, chairman of Napolcom, said the commission approved the promotion to the next rank of Sr. Insp. Ryan Pabalinas and 43 others following the recommendation made by PNP officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina.

Roxas said the 44 were operatives of the SAF’s 55th and 84th Special Action Company that served the warrants of arrest against Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, and Filipino terrorist Basit Usman.

“Although outnumbered by a superior enemy force, they held their ground, fought up to their last breath and accomplished their mission,” Roxas said.

“The courage displayed by these valiant police officers earned themselves not only the admiration of the members of the PNP but also of the people they had sworn to serve. We assure the families of the slain policemen that they will receive full assistance from the commission the soonest possible time.”

Napolcom vice-chairman and executive officer Eduardo Escueta said the spouses of the 28 SAF members would receive gratuity equivalent to one year basic salary, burial expenses equivalent to three months basic salary and monthly pension for five years equivalent to 80 percent of the slain police officer’s basic monthly pay.

The minor legitimate child of one SAF member would also receive the same benefits.

The surviving parents of 12 single SAF personnel would receive gratuity equivalent to one-year basic salary and burial expenses equivalent to three months basic salary.

The children of three SAF members, who were single but without surviving parents, would also receive the same benefits.

Roxas added he would immediately submit a copy of the Board of Inquiry (BOI) report on the Mamasapano incident to President Aquino and to the Senate.

BOI chairman Director Benjamin Magalong, chief of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, earlier said the panel would submit their report on Monday to Espina, who will then submit the report to Roxas.