Ex-SAF trooper survived Mamasapano, killed in Abra blast 3 years later

EXACTLY three years after he survived the deadly Mamasapano encounter in Maguindanao, Police Officer 3 Carlos Bocaig died from a grenade blast in Abra province.

Bocaig was one of two police personnel who were killed after a grenade exploded during a fireworks display in La Paz town plaza at 1:30 a.m. Thursday, January 25.

The explosion also killed Police Officer 2 Frenzel Kitoyan.

Sixteen persons, including Abra Representative Joseph Bernos and wife La Paz Mayor Menchie Bernos, were injured.

Chief Superintendent Edward Carranza, Cordillera Police Regional Office director, said Bocaig was a former member of the Philippine National Police's (PNP) elite Special Action Force (SAF), specifically the 84th Seaborne CompanyRapid Deployment Battalion.

On January 25, 2015, SAF troopers swooped down on a Mamasapano village, where Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir, also known as Marwan, and Abdul Basit Usman were believed to be hiding.

Marwan was one of the most wanted terrorists and bomb makers in Southeast Asia, with a $5-million bounty on his head under the Rewards for Justice Program of the US Department of State and a 7.4-million reward from the Philippine government.

Marwan was killed in the operation while Usman eluded arrest, although he was later killed in another operation.

As the commandos pulled out from Marwan's lair, Moro rebels engaged them in a firefight. Fortyfour men, now known as SAF 44, were killed. Bocaig was one of those who survived.

Eighteen members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and breakaway faction Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters were also killed. SunStar Philippines