SAF survivor brought back to PNP hospital

MANILA, Philippines - A Special Action Force (SAF) commando who survived the bloody clash in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on Jan. 25, was brought back to the Philippine National Police General Hospital (PNPGH) in Camp Crame, Quezon City due to infection.

Chief Insp. Raymond Santos, PNP Health Service spokesman, said the SAF survivor who was not identified for security reasons, had an infected wound on his back.

Santos said the wound developed an infection that needs to be checked, reopened and cleansed.

There are still four survivors confined at PNPGH due to the seriousness of wounds they suffered during the encounter with Muslim rebels in the operation to arrest Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, and his Filipino cohort Basit Usman.

Thirteen of 15 SAF survivors from the Mamasapano operation were discharged from hospital last Feb. 27 after a month of medical treatment.

Another SAF commando survived the bloody incident in Mamasapano, but is now facing another huge challenge after shrapnel remained embedded near his spinal column and one wrong move could leave him paralyzed.

Doctors are monitoring the condition of the SAF member while they are studying the best option to ensure his safe recovery.

Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II said the SAF survivor has a piece of bullet near his vertebrae. He is not paralyzed, but one wrong move could worsen his condition.

Roxas directed the hospital authorities to make sure the proper medical attention is given to the SAF survivor, whose identity was not disclosed for security reasons.

Roxas said most of the SAF commandos confined at the PNPGH are members of the 84th Special Action Company, the assault team that stormed the nipa hut of Marwan in Mamasapano.