Palace leads National Day of Remembrance for SAF 44

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Tuesday remembered and honored the sacrifice of 44 police commandos who were killed in a botched mission to capture a Malaysian bomber in Mamasapano town, Maguindanao province, otherwise known as the “SAF 44.”

Cabinet Secretary and acting presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles reminded the public that Jan. 25 is the National Day of Remembrance of the slain operatives, as provided under Proclamation No. 164.

The proclamation was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2017.

“Ngayong araw, Jan. 25, ay ginugunita natin ang kabayanihan ng SAF 44 at ang sakripisyo ng ating uniformed personnel para sa patuloy na kapayapaan at seguridad na ating tinatamasa,” Nograles said in a Palace briefing.

(On this day, Jan. 25, we are remembering the heroism of the SAF 44 and the sacrifice of our uniformed personnel for the peace and security we continue to enjoy.)

It has been seven years since the operation, which led to the deaths of 44 members of the Special Action Force (SAF), the elite PNP unit, at the hands of Moro rebels.

Their aim was to capture the Malaysian bomber Zulkifli bin Hir, also known as Marwan.

At least 18 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels and seven civilians also died in the operation. Fourteen of the SAF 44, as they have come to be known, were from the Cordillera and have been dubbed the “Cordillera Braves.”

JPV