SAF men injured in Mamasapano clash to get psychological treatment – PNP

MANILA, Philippines – The 14 members of the Special Action Force injured in the bloody clash in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, will be also undergoing psychological treatment to address their other needs.

The Philippine National Police said the wounded would receive financial assistance and hospitalization as part of the government’s commitment to help the SAF.

“We will address all their medical needs, including their mental health. We have alerted our psychologists and psychiatrists to help the injured in the post-incident stress, and to assess their mental health,” said the PNP spokesperson, Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo Jr.

He added that the PNP has decided to include the wounded policemen’s mental health in the medical assistance since the survivors just went through a traumatic incident.

Of the 392 SAF troopers who were dispatched to Mamasapano to arrest two high profile terrorists, 44 commandos were killed while 14 were injured when they were waylaid by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

The wounded will receive financial assistance from the Presidential Social Fund, ranging from P50,000 to P100,000 depending on the degree of injuries, as well as assistance from the PNP, which will cover their hospitalization expenses.

“The PNP will shoulder all hospitalization expenses, we will reimburse it if they need additional treatment to get better. This is the commitment of the PNP as instructed by interior secretary Mar Roxas and PNP officer in charge, Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina,” Cerbo said.

The PNP spokesperson also assured that Espina wanted to get to the bottom of things and that the board of inquiry would carry out its mandate to investigate the encounter.

Asked if this might mean that suspended PNP chief and Director General Alan Purisima or President Aquino, who allegedly both knew of the operation, might be affected by the probe, Cerbo said: “Let us wait for the results of the BOI, it will spare no one.”

According to Cerbo, the PNP owes it to the country and the fallen 44 SAF heroes to learn the truth in the Mamasapano carnage.

“When the BOI reports to the country what happened, then we can judge if what they did was correct,” Cerbo said.

The PNP also vowed to cooperate with the Senate and House of Representatives if they would launch their own investigation of the Mamasapano gun battle.