2 yrs after Mamasapano clash, SAF 44 families plead for Duterte's help

Widows and relatives of the 44 police commandos killed in the January 2015 Mamasapano clash finally got a chance to ask President Rodrigo Duterte questions that have been nagging them for the past two years.

At the same time, the families of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) members killed during "Oplan Exodus" also got to personally air their grievances over the slow pace of justice for their slain relatives during a dialogue with the President in Malacañang on Tuesday.

Among the questions raised by the SAF 44 concerned the promised increase of pension for the servicemen's dependents, scholarship for the children, and employment for the relatives.

Meanwhile, John Anniban, father of Sr. Insp. Cyrus Anniban also asked the President the following questions:

"Why were these young men sent to an operation without explicit firepower support and reinforcements?

"Why was the operation why not coordinated with the military that had the firepower when needed?

"Why did the nearest SAF units, the 45th and 42nd Special Action Companies, which were less than a kilometer away from the embattled 55th Special Action Company not reinforce despite the call for help of their dying comrades? Seemingly, somebody ordered them to stand down. Who gave that order?

"The previous administration promised the bereaved families livelihood assistance but until now we were only 70 percent of that. Where is the 30 percent?"

Anniban also said that former President Benigno Aquino III and former SAF commander Getulio Napeñas should be held accountable for their “gross negligence and total disregard for the life of officers and men they sent."

“Sir, it is you, we believe, can help us. It is you, we believe, can give us the justice we are long seeking for the tragic death of our loved ones. Sir, please help us. I know you can help us, sir,” Erica Pabalinas, widow of Sr. Insp. Ryan Pabalinas, said in her brief message.

Guillermo Tria, the father of Sr. Insp. Max Jim Tria wanted to get an assurance from the President that the cases stemming from the slays would be solved.

“Ang sa akin po sir, magtatanong lang po ako kasi magdadalawang taon na po matapos po iyong trahedya na hanggang ngayon po hindi namin alam kung makakamit namin ang hustisya at kung sino po ang dapat managot sa pangyayaring iyon. Napakasakit po sa mga kagaya kong magulang, asawa na naulila at hanggang ngayon po, hindi namin nakamtam ang hustisya,” he said as he fought back tears.

Melanie Duque, widow of PO3 Andres Duque Jr, also shared the same sentiment.

“Gusto ko lang pong itanong, Mr. President, kung may pag-asa pa bang makamit naming SAF 44 families iyong hustisya nila kasi dalawang taon na po ang nakaraan, wala pa rin pong pag-usad ang kaso nila,” she said.

Medal of valor, day of remembrance

During the dialogue, Duterte also vowed to dedicate a “day of remembrance” and grant medals of valor, the highest award given to a police officer, to all the 44 police commandos killed in the January 2015 Mamasapano clash.

In his speech, Duterte said he would give the medals of valor to the slain commandos once recommended by the PNP chief Dir. Gen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.

Duterte promised the medals of valor after the mother of PO2 Jed-In Abubakar Asjali, Rohirmina Asjali, raised a concern that not all 44 commandos were given the medal.

"Justice po, Mahal na Pangulo, ang tinatanong ng lahat bakit ngayon wala pa po magdadalawang taon na. At [ang] medal of valor sana po maibigay sa kanila dahil namatay naman po silang lahat," she said.

Meanwhile, the idea for the day of remembrance came after Anniban asked a favor to declare January 25 as a national memorial day for the SAF 44.

In his speech, Duterte also announced that he would create a commission to find the truth about the Mamasapano operation.

Oplan Exodus resulted in the death of Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan, whose finger was cut off by police commandos and sent to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation for DNA identification. Marwan, a bomb maker, had a $5 million bounty on his head. — MDM, GMA News