SAF 44 kin march for justice

MANILA, Philippines - Families of the 44 slain Special Action Force (SAF) commandos are still crying for justice 44 days after the bloody encounter with Muslim rebels in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

Erica Pabalinas, widow of SAF team leader Chief Inspector Ryan Pabalinas, yesterday led the “March for Justice for SAF 44” where participants walked from the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters at Camp Crame to the Immaculate Heart of Mary parish church in Quezon City.

“While we all knew that their jobs were full of danger, never did we imagine that they would all be lost, 44 brave men in a tragic and brutal way. It has been 44 days and each day has not been easier. We wake up daily to the realization that we lost them for good,” Pabalinas told the crowd in an emotional speech.

She said the slain commandos’ families wake up to the reality that “we are not closer to knowing the truth.”

“Forty-four days later, we still don’t know who their killers are and many of us have not recovered the personal belongings of our brave men,” Pabalinas said.

She said the families and relatives of the slain policemen have eagerly been monitoring the progress of investigations on the Mamasapano incident.

“Our hearts are more burdened as the days pass. Our cry for justice seems to be slipping from our grasp. We don’t seek to blame anybody; we seek justice. Why is that justice so hard to gain? Is the sacrifice of the fallen 44 not enough to merit justice? They serve for justice, but where is justice for them?” Pabalinas said, adding her three-year-old daughter Camille had lost the love of a father.

Pabalinas also thanked the PNP and other government sectors, as well as private individuals and groups for their assistance.

“Please know that all of you are appreciated. We want the government and national leaders to know that we do not want blood money. We families ask and seek one thing – truth and justice to be served,” she said.

Pabalinas also thanked the PNP Academy Alumni Association Inc. (PNPAAAI) for taking up the cause of justice for their loved ones as well as those who joined the solidarity march to show sympathy.

“We hope that soon, not 44 months, not 44 years, not forever, do we have to continue waiting so that truth and justice will be finally served for our brave fallen 44,” she said.

Pabalinas called on President Aquino to “help us gain justice and know the truth.”

Despite a last-minute call to back out and recall of permits for the event, the march went on with almost 1,000 people participating.

The PNPAAAI initiated the march with participants wearing white T-shirts emblazoned with “Walk with the widows, run for our heroes,” while carrying placards bearing the photos of the slain 44.

Running priest Fr. Robert Reyes also jogged along.

Reyes and his group joined the march and proceeded to Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish for a mass.

Tomas Rentoy III, PNPAAAI chairman of the board, said the march turned out to be successful and peaceful despite the cancellation of permits and the call of a police official for their fellow PNPA graduates not to join the event.

“Despite many hindrances, we consider the sympathy march for justice for SAF44 successful,” Rentoy said. “There were so many obstacles thrown our way.”

He said they had secured several permits for the event, but “a few days before the march, our permits were recalled one after the other. We don’t know why.”

Rentoy said Senior Superintendent Jerome Baxinela, president of the Camp Crame chapter of the PNPAAAI, issued the call not to attend the march. He said Baxinela could be expelled from the association or end up ostracized.

Rentoy, a retired police general, explained that among cadets, being ostracized by alumni and batchmates is far worse because this translates to being considered nonexistent.

He said Baxinela’s infractions would be among the agenda of the meeting of board of trustees this week in preparation for the general assembly of the PNPA alumni homecoming on March 12.

While the group was trying to assemble outside the gate of Camp Crame, there were members of Gabriela holding placards denouncing the government.

A PNPA officer approached the leader of the militant group and requested them not to use the march for any political protest, to which the group obliged.

Rentoy revealed that last week, an officer of Bayan indicated the group’s intention to participate in the march.

Rentoy said he gave them guidelines, including the ban on anti-government slogans.

National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Carmelo Valmoria said the march was peaceful even though some militant groups participated in the event. Valmoria said the participants did not issue any grievances nor carry placards against the government as was agreed upon.

“There was no untoward incident reported in the march for the fallen SAF 44. The event was peaceful and orderly until the participants dispersed before lunchtime,” he said.

The killing of the 44 SAF operatives became the rallying cry of several groups calling for the resignation of President Aquino and other officials involved in the bloody police operation.

The 44 policemen were part of a team of SAF operatives on a mission to capture one of world’s most wanted terrorists hiding in a remote village in Mamasapano.

Although the target, Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, was killed, the raiding policemen were waylaid by Muslim rebels while on their way out of Mamasapano on Jan. 25.

The operation became the focus of investigations by the PNP and the Senate. –With Non Alquitran, Christina Mendez