Organizer assures March for Justice for SAF 44 won’t be ‘anti-government’
Pictures of the slain PNP SAF killed in an alleged “misencounter” with MILF and BIFF in Mamasapano,Maguindanao displayed outside the gates of Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/RAFFY LERMA
MANILA, Philippines–The organizer of the nationwide march for justice for the slain 44 policemen assured that the event will be a “peaceful gathering” amid the sentiments of the families of the Special Action Forces troopers killed in the operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao province.
Retired Chief Superintendent Tomas Rentoy III, chairman of the PNP Academy Alumni Association Inc., the organizer, said that the walk will not be an “anti-government” activity.
“We have issued guidelines to those who will be participating. We’ve told them that offensive and anti-government placards will not be allowed during the march,” Rentoy said in an interview with INQUIRER.net.
Earlier, PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr. called on the organizers to keep it as a peaceful demonstration as some police officers will be joining the walk.
Alumni and families of the slain commandos will hold the 44-kilometer march from Dasmariñas City in Cavite to Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City for a concluding mass on March 8.
The PNPAAAI and the family members of the SAF 44 had been vocal about their grievances against the government, including President Benigno Aquino III and former PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima for mishandling the bungled operation.
However, Cerbo said, although the PNP “respects and supports the sentiments from various sectors,” the PNPAAAI should make sure that the assembly has a permit from the PNP and other government agencies concerned.
“The act of expressing themselves is not a problem. It’s a non-issue to the PNP. (But) is it authorized? We will not allow them to join an activity if it is unauthorized for obvious reasons. May mga permits na kailangan, baka makaabala sa iba, may mga consideration na titingnan,” he said.
But Rentoy said the PNP officer in charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina has approved himself the activity, as well as the Quezon City local government and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.
“We will only use one lane so as not to cause inconvenience to motorists. Plus it’s a Sunday. But we will also deploy field marshals for an orderly march,” Rentoy said.
As for policemen who are graduates of the PNPA who want to join the walk, Rentoy discouraged police officers on duty to participate as this would interfere with their work.
He said some SAF officers will also join the march.
But Cerbo said only the corresponding commanders of the police officers could allow them to leave their duties for the protest.
“As policemen, we have our supervisors and commanders and of course, we have to seek their guidance,” he said.
After the Mamasapano incident, the PNPAAAI threatened the government that it would urge all 4,000 PNPA graduates in the field to take a “mass leave” if justice would not be served for the 44 policemen.
They also vowed to file criminal charges against the perpetrators and officials who may have failed in the planning of the deadly operation.
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