SAF 44 officer’s wife receive award with mixed feelings

DR. Christine Cempron will accept today the medal of valor for her late husband PO2 Romeo Cempron, who was one of the 44 police special troopers who were killed in an encounter with Muslim rebels in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last year.

“Actually, it’s long overdue,” she said in a phone interview. “It should have been awarded earlier.”

The widow will wear the same gown she intended to wear last year when she heard PO2 Cempron would be awarded, but the event did not push through.

“Ang akong Filipiniana hapit na lang mohuot (I cannot almost wear my Filipiana),” she said.

Since it is election season, she said it is not a “right timing” for the reinvestigation of the incident, which was prompted by Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile’s claim that a new evidence points at the direct involvement of President Benigno Aquino III in the operation of the Special Action Force (SAF) commandos were on a mission to arrest Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, also known as Marwan, and Filipino terrorist Basit Usman.

Receiving the award does not equate to happiness for Dr. Cempron, because her husband cannot be brought back to life.

“It is mixed emotions for me,” she said, adding that she can still feel the pain of her loss and that of other widows.

Participation

PO2 Cempron was the lead gunner of the Main Effort 2, 55th Special Action Company when he helped in securing the teams assigned to capture the terrorists.

“While his team of 36 SAF commandos was being bombarded by the enemies in the cornfields of Sitio Tukanalipao, and without proper cover, Cempron bravely fought and made his last stand until he ran out of ammunition,” Napolcom’s resolution read.

Dr. Cempron’s family plans to offer a thanksgiving mass after receiving the Medal of Valor, which is the highest award for the uniformed services.

Senior Insp. Gednat Tabdi will also receive the same award, which will be given today as the Philippine National Police (PNP) commemorates the first anniversary

of the incident today.

Foundation Day

The commemoration of the clash, which will be led by President Aquino coincides with the 25th Foundation Day of the PNP.

Dr. Cempron, however, said the other 42 slain members of the SAF should also be awarded with medals of valor. “They are deserving,” she said. The 42 troopers were already awarded with PNP Distinguished Conduct Medal by the National Police Commission. The same medal was given to Supt. Raymund Train, who survived the gun battle with members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).