19 more SAF men receive P100K from Makati gov't

MANILA, Philippines - The Makati City government on Tuesday gave P100,000 cash to each of the 19 commandos of the Special Action Force (SAF) 84th Seaborne Company who were involved part in the Mamasapano clash last January 25.

Makati City spokesman Joey Salgado said the 19 SAF troopers were not among those injured in the clash but were part of the group tasked to arrest top terrorists Zulkifli bin Hir better known as “Marwan” and Abdul Basit Usman.

Salgado said the 19 SAF troopers personally received the P100,000 cash aid from Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay at his office. The troopers, however, requested that media be barred from covering the awarding event and that their identities not be made public.

According to Salgado, the 19 troopers hail from various parts of the country and have been staying at the SAF headquarters in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City following the Mamasapano clash that left 68 people dead including 44 SAF commandos and 18 fighters of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Mayor Binay said the gallantry of the 19 SAF troopers should be remembered.

“They should not become the Forgotten 19,” he said.

“These 19 valiant members of SAF 84th Seaborne Company also deserve our recognition and gratitude for having risked their lives to capture known terrorists and thereby save innocent lives. This is the least we can do to show our appreciation of their dedication to duty,” Binay added.

Earlier, the Makati city government held a tribute for the 44 SAF members who were killed in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January 25.

Mayor Binay together with his father Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senator Nancy Binay and former mayor Dr. Elenita Binay, handed a P100,000-check to each of their families as financial assistance.

Other forms of assistance, such as college scholarship at the University of Makati, medical services through the Ospital ng Makati, and a P300,000-housing benefit from the National Housing Authority, were also offered to the beneficiaries during the tribute.

Last February 8, the Binays visited and distributed P100,000 each to the 15 wounded troopers of the SAF who survived the bloody mission.