Belmonte leads House in honoring SAF 44
THE House of Representatives will join the nation in paying tribute to the 44 brave troopers of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Forces (SAF) during the first year of the Mamasapano clash.
Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said the House has scheduled a Mass today for the SAF 44 who died during the Mamasapano clash in Maguindanao during a mission to capture a wanted Malaysian terrorist and bomb-maker.
“We are going to have a Mass, and that is our way of commemorating it,” Belmonte said.
The Speaker said the nation will never forget the bravery and heroism of the SAF 44 and other SAF members who survived the clash.
“We recognize their sacrifice and what their families have been going through,” he said.
Last year, the Speaker led the House in a fund drive for the families of the SAF 44 by authoring House Resolution No. 181 which provides that as an expression of gratitude for their sacrifice in the service of their country, the House extends financial assistance to the families of the fallen policemen who were killed in the line of duty and those who survived the clash.
House resolution
The resolution, in consolidation with HR 186, was adopted on Feb. 3, 2015.
The House, through lawmakers, secretariat officials and employees, and congressional staff collectively raised a total of P5.3 million in financial assistance for beneficiaries of the SAF 44, 15 SAF survivors and 15 soldiers wounded in the Jan. 25, 2015 Mamasapano clash.
Belmonte and other lawmak- ers also met the families of the SAF 44 in Congress.
Meanwhile, Cotabato City officials, peace advocates and army troops for peace will conduct interfaith prayer today in Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao to commemorate the first year anniversary of the deadly Mamasapano debacle to honor all those who perished in the unfortunate incident, officials said yesterday.
According to Maj. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan, 6th Infantry Division commander, some relatives of the slain members of the Police Special Action Force (SFA) will be around to join the inter-faith prayer.
A wreath-laying and indigenous ritual to remember the dead will be held as part of the commemoration.
Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Toto Mangudadatu said the provincial government will also conduct a medical outreach program to serve relatives of slain noncombatants and inhabitants of Barangay Tukanalipao.