State honors, promotions to be accorded fallen SAF men
MANILA, Philippines – Medals of recognition, spot promotions and full state honors on their funeral will be accorded the 44 fallen heroes who died in a police operation that led into a bloody clash with Muslim rebels in Maguindanao province.
All Special Action Force members who perished in the gunfight will receive the “highest possible medal” and will be a rank higher for their valor, Philippine National Police officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina said in a press briefing on Tuesday.
The medals the SAF commandos will receive will be equivalent to the military’s Gold Cross medal, a medal recognizing a soldier for gallantry in action.
Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, in the same briefing, assured that their families wouldn’t have to line up and go through the bureaucracy in claiming the death benefits of the policemen.
Taking charge of the monetary benefits is Police Director Rolando Purugganan, PNP Director for Comptrollership.
Espina said Purugganan would take charge of everything “from start to end in a very detailed manner.”
”It will be his responsibility to negotiate with the 44 families and 12 families of those wounded to ensure that the financial aid will be distributed to them,” Roxas added.
For the children of the slain cops, Roxas also promised them a scholarship.
Of the 392 elite cops sent to Mamasapano town to arrest a Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist, 44 died while 11 were injured.
