Bike run for SAF 44 set on Valentine’s Day

MANILA, Philippines - A bike run to Mamasapano, Maguindanao to call for justice for the 44 police Special Action Force (SAF) commandos killed during the Jan. 25 operation will be held on Valentine’s Day.

The activity was also meant to express continued support for the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

In an interview over Church-run Radio Veritas, Cotabato Auxiliary Bishop Jose Collin Bagaforo said members of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, police officers from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and the archdiocese of Cotabato will join the activity.

“We are expecting 300 bikers,” Bagaforo said, adding that the bike run will cover around 90 kilometers.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Deles, government peace panel chairperson Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, local mayors, ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman and representatives of the MILF and the Moro National Liberation Front are expected to join the event.

Shaved heads

Meanwhile, in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, former SAF commandos shaved their heads on Monday to show sympathy for their fallen comrades.

“Members of the Philippine National Police Academy Class 2003-Sambigkis all over the country cut their hair for our fallen 44. We do the same here in Nueva Vizcaya to show our solidarity,” Chief Inspector Wilfredo Velayo, Bayombong police chief, said.

Aside from Velayo, the former SAF commandos who shaved their heads were Chief Inspector Chevalier Irringan, Senior Inspector Robert Agustin, Inspector Filipino Flaris, Police Officer 4 Richard Daniel and Police Officers 3 Nikkon Magalued, Valentino Tocyap, Frankfort Mediva, Luc Manuel, Vladimir Guting and Marvin Tayaban.

The police officers also wore black shirts to express sympathy to the widows and children of the SAF 44.

The provincial government of Nueva Vizcaya gave P30,000 to the family of Police Officer 2 Joel Dulnuan, one of six slain commandos from the Cagayan Valley region. – With Victor Martin