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PNP remembers ‘Gallant 44’

January 25, 2023 Alfred P. Dalizon 340 views

EIGHT years after they perished in a mission to neutralize Southeast Asia’s “most wanted” terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias “Marwan” in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday honored the “Gallant 44” in ceremonies at the PNP Special Action Force (SAF) headquarters in Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City.

Led by General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr., the PNP honored the memory of the 44 SAF commandos who offered the ultimate sacrifice on January 25, 2015, while on a mission to get Marwan and other Malaysian bomb-making experts in what is known as the “Mamasapano Massacre.”

The United States government offered a US$5 million reward for the neutralization of Marwan.

The “National Day of Remembrance” for the SAF 44 with this year’s theme, “Legacy of Heroes: Inspiration of Future Generation,” was graced by Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin.

During the event, PNP-SAF Director Major Gen. Edgar Alan O. Okubo delivered a welcome message, saying, “Our commemoration is a celebration of 44 lives well lived. We are given only one life, and we are given free will on how to live it, but the ‘Gallant 44’ chose to live it the way they did eight years ago,” the official said.

“Their lives were never wasted. Their lives will never be forgotten,” said the SAF director.

According to him, the SAF 44’s “lives are [a] gift from God. Had [it] not for theirs, we would have basked under the shadow of fear, of violence and of terror. They shunned the beauty of living and embraced the consequences of death for many to see living as a blessing and to see their death as the end of fear.”

“They made their lives a symbol of perfect patriotism-they represent the supreme qualities that we should strive to emulate – courage, strength, selflessness and love. We recognize their willingly braved journey. They took it upon themselves so that we could live in peace,” he added.

Bersamin said that the Mamasapano mission was an unqualified success because it led to the confirmed killing of Marwan, an “expert” in the making of improvised explosives devices (IEDs).

“The success was resounding and worthy of celebration by all peace-loving peoples and nations, for every time that a terrorist like Marwan is meted justice, the victims of terrorism – regardless of their nationalities are gloriously vindicated,” Bersamin said.

The top Palace official said that the 44 SAF commandos, out of 300 or so in that mission, “(Gave) their lives in Mamasapano. They did so with the gallantry and heroism that all SAF troopers have been known to possess. They fought to their last breath against [the] remarkably superior combination of the hostile forces that surrounded them. They were warriors to the very end,” he added.

Azurin said that the “heroism of SAF 44 will be forever etched in the books of our country’s history that will never be forgotten.”

“Like the generations of warrior heroes before them, our fallen SAF 44 gave everything they had, not for glory or recognition, but for something greater than themselves. The least we can do is to remember them and their ultimate sacrifice,” the top cop said.

Azurin also reminded everybody that the legacy of the heroism of SAF 44 is not “just a memory,” but an “inspiration” for future generations of police officers to continue to serve with “valor and integrity.”

“We will continue to honor their memory and supreme sacrifice as we make sure that their legacy lives on through our actions and dedication to the service. They will always be remembered as true heroes, who have given their lives for the service of Filipinos,” he said.

Other top PNP officials, many of them former SAF troopers and some widows and relatives of the slain troopers, also graced the ceremony.

One of them, Mrs. Haslyn Acob, the widow of Police Master Sergeant Rodrigo Fernandez Acob Jr., delivered a message during the ceremony.

“Today, we remember the unfathomable pain, but as a wife of a hero, I want to encourage the whole Filipino people, sana ay naging huwaran sila sa ating lahat na gawin ang ating mga tungkulin, maliit man o malaki para makatulong tayo sa pagkamit ng lasting peace and prosperity sa ating bansa,” Mrs. Acob said.

At the PNP national headquarters, PNP Deputy Chief for Administration, Lt.Gen. Rhodel O. Sermonia, along with members of the PNP Directorial Staff, led a wreath-laying ceremony at Bantayog ng mga Bayaning Tagapamayapa at Camp Crame in the morning of the same day.

As per Presidential Proclamation No. 164, issued by former President Rodrigo R. Duterte, January 25th of every year is officially recognized as the “National Day of Remembrance for the Heroic Sacrifice SAF 44.”

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