House leaders back medals for ‘SAF 44’

Both administration and opposition House leaders sought yesterday the conferment of Medal of Valor to some, if not all of the 44 police commandos and other members of the Special Action Force (SAF) who survived the bloody anti-terror raid against Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan” and his Filipino cohort in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, last January 25.

Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr. and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, the House Independent Bloc leader, led the lawmakers in urging the Aquino govern-

ment to give what is due to the slain police commandos and their colleagues who survived the Mamasapano clash by granting them the highest Philippine National Police (PNP) award and by immediately filing criminal charges against their perpetrators.

“We should give that award to them plus the immediate filing of complaints versus the attackers,” Belmonte, vice chairman of the Liberal Party said.

Romualdez said the government’s gesture to give the award to the SAF troopers would further affirm that indeed they killed Marwan contrary to the allegations of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that it was Marwan’s aide who killed him.

“Ipakita natin ang malasakit (compassion) sa kanila. We should rally behind giving some, if not all SAF members who were killed and survived the Mamasapano clash the much-delayed PNP’s Medal of Valor or

Medalya ng Kagitingan especially to those who stood until their last breath,” he said.

He said to addressing the gripping demoralization in the PNP, the government should now lodge cases against the killers of SAF commandos.

“To confer this award they rightfully deserve will also help boost the morale of PNP. They valued freedom, stability, peace and security of the country by fighting terrorism. It’s high time to return their sacrifice, including the SAF 44, the breadwinners of their families,” Romualdez, a lawyer and president of the Philippine

Constitution Association (Philconsa) said.

Quezon City Reps. Winston “Winnie” Castelo and Alfred Vargas, LP stalwarts agreed that “greatest honor” should be given to the fallen and surviving SAF operatives for their sacrifice and heroic acts.

“I agree the greatest honor we can bestow upon the SAF 44 is to give them the highest accolades available in the police. They sacrificed their lives so others may live,” Castelo, chairman of the House committee on Metro Manila development said.

“The SAF members deserve the Medal of Valor. With this, they will indeed be remembered in history as heroes who offered their lives for good and country. The SAF killed Marwan, no doubt about it,” Vargas said.

Valenzuela City Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian also rallied behind his colleagues’ proposal provided that the recipients of the award comply with the requirements.

“First the SAF heroes should be in compliance with the rules of the conferment of the Medal of Valor. After compliance, the SAF heroes should immediately be conferred to give peace in their hearts not only for the families but also for the nation,” he said.

As provided for by Republic Act (RA) No. 9049, the recipients of the Medal of Valor shall have a lifetime monthly gratuity of P20,000 and their children shall be given scholarships to the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA), and are given priority to join government.