Flowers, candles at Crame gate as public mourns with PNP

By: Nestor Corrales - 10 years ago

Photo by Nestor Corrales/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philipines—The warm yellow glow of candlelight set the somber mood as countless anonymous mourners offered prayers at the Edsa gate of Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Bisnar, not her real name, was among those who went late Tuesday night to grieve over the lost lives.

“Hopefully, they could feel that they are not alone, that their fellow Filipinos and the whole nation are grieving with them,” she told INQUIRER.net.

Since the death of 44 elite cops in the Mamasapano bloodbath, sympathizers have offered flowers and candles at the headquarters of the Philippine National Police.

Bisnar, who came from Pasay City, does not have a relative in the Special Action Force but said she was in pain for the lost lives.

She kneeled, lighted a candle and offered a prayer in silence.

“Sometimes the only thing you can do is just to be with them,” Bisnar later said.

A necrological service was held for the fallen SAF troopers on January 30 in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

Scores of people paid their last respects as they went to the police headquarter to sympathize with the bereaved families.

The whole nation mourned the death of the fallen commandos as flags were flown at half-mast in government offices, courts and schools.

The Aquino government has vowed to hold a thorough investigation to serve justice for the fallen commandos as various versions of the clash between the PNP-SAF and armed Moro groups have surfaced.

Bisnar stared in silence at the flowers, the candles and messages of justice and accountability.

“I hope (the President) listens to the public pulse because it’s the people who put the authorities in power,” Bisnar said. “I hope they listen to all sides of the story.”