Benefits for the SAF 44

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor CHERYL CRUZ Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The announcement by the National Police Commission that the 44 members of the Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police who were killed by Moro rebels in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on January 25 will be granted posthumous promotions is very heartwarming, indeed.

The policemen, who were in a mission to serve an arrest warrant to a notorious terrorist and bomb-making expert, responsible for much of the bomb explosions in Mindanao, and, possibly, in other parts of the country, found themselves in an exchange of deadly fire with rebels, believed to be members of both the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the supposed splinter group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in the area.

The Police had earlier determined, after a lot of intensive sleuthing, the site where the notorious terror suspect, already identified as Zulfikli bin Hir, alias “Marwan,” was in hiding. Their intelligence information proved to be accurate, because they were able to locate his hideaway, and successfully neutralize him.

But instead of getting help, or being assisted in their mission by the members of the MILF, with whom the government had an ongoing negotiation that had concluded with the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, the residents of the area, apparently defenders or coddlers of Marwan, set upon them, mercilessly killed 44 of the elite group, and also robbed their bodies of their personal effects as well as their guns.

In pursuing their dangerous mission, the SAF members had believed that they would be saving, not only our country, but also other countries, including the United States that was also hunting Marwan, from terror attacks. And that is why their deaths were so heroic, that the entire country lauded them for living up to their vows as the protectors of their people.

Hence the meritorious promotion, posthumously, for “demonstrating acts of conspicuous courage and gallantry”. And the honors and benefits to be granted are authorized by Republic Act 6975, as amended by RA 8551, that will grant protection and gratuities to their families.*