Caption: An altar was set up in the House of Representatives Wednesday for the 44 slain elite cops in the Mamasapano clash. Fourty four candles were lit alongside a flag in the altar. Beside it was a poster bearing the names of the so-called “Fallen SAF 44.” Photo by Marc Jayson Cayabyab/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—The House of Representatives has paid homage to the families of the 44 elite cops who were slain in the Mamasapano attack which involved the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. on Wednesday led the Mass for the police commandos in the lower chamber, offering white roses with fellow lawmakers before an altar of 44 candles offered for the elite cops.
Beside the altar was a poster bearing the names of the cops, who were known as the “Fallen 44 heroes.”
In an interview after the Mass, Belmonte said at least 150 solons shelled out at least P10,000 from their salaries as donation for the families left behind by the slain police commandos.
This is in line with Belmonte’s House Resolution 1865, which said House members could volunteer to make a one-time P10,000 donation from their own salaries.
At least P2.9 million is expected if all 290 House members donate the minimum amount of donation.
Belmonte said Batangas Rep. Mark Llandro Mendoza, son of late former national police chief Leandro Mendoza, was among those who gave the highest donation at P150,000.
Meanwhile, Belmonte said he donated P200,000 from his own income.
“Madaling kumuha ng pera kapag sa gobyerno, pero ito ay galing sa sariling bulsa, sa sariling sweldo … As of yesterday, 150 members signed up to make a contribution from our own pockets, not from other people’s pockets,” Belmonte said.
Belmonte led the House of Representatives during their Mass on Wednesday for the slain Special Action Force (SAF) cops, who were part of a mission to take down an international terrorist that ended in a massacre in an attack by the MILF and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.
The botched operation was blamed on authorities’ lack of coordination. Sacked SAF commander Getulio Napeñas has claimed accountability, saying he kept the operation secret from the military and police.
Some solons representing the districts of the slain police commandos called for a suspension of the hearings over the Bangsamoro bill, the passage of which was rocked due to its main benefactor MILF’s involvement in the attack.
Cebu Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia called to suspend the congressional hearings over the bill, which seeks to create a more politically autonomous Bangsamoro entity, until results of the official investigation come out.
She said one of the slain SAF member, PO1 Windel Candano, came from Dumanjug town in her district.
“It’s a tragedy that has been brought home to us directly. He leaves behind a 7-year-old child. His eyes were gouged out, one of his arms was separated from him. He was brutalized,” the congresswoman said.
In a privilege speech, Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Aurora Enerio-Cerilles said three of the slain cops were from her district—Senior Insp. John Garry Erana, Insp. Rennie Tayrus and PO3 Virgel Villanueva.
“I rise on a question of personal and collective privilege. Personal because three of the fallen 44 policemen in the Mamasapano massacre came from my congressional district … and collective because I join the sentiments of the bereaved families, relatives and loved ones …” she said.
She detailed the brutal death of her constituents in the massacre.
“I was in tears when the parents of Police Inspector Tayrus said that his head was covered with white cloth because his face cannot anymore be restored due to the close range shots,” Cerilles said.
“Police Senior Inspector Erana’s face was restored, however, his family was unable to identify him immediately and needed to have his body again brought to a funeral parlor to check any marks to confirm if it was really him,” she added.
The representative likewise called for suspending the hearings over the Bangsamoro bill. “There is an atmosphere of outrage in our country today. Prudence dictates that we should suspend or hold in abeyance our actions on this proposed law,” Cerilles said.
Meanwhile, Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice said he personally knew one of the slain cops. PO2 Ephraim Mejia, who hailed from Pangasinan, was one of Erice’s security member for a year before he was detailed to Mindanao as an elite cop.
“He is a dedicated police officer. Everytime pupunta siyang Manila, dadaan muna siya sa bahay at dun makikitulog… He was shot in the head kaya medyo namaga ang mukha niya,” Erice said.
He said he remained confident that the Bangsamoro bill is crucial for long-lasting peace in the region.
“In the final analysis, there’s no other way but to find ways of making peaceful solution to the problems in Mindanao. And these can only be achieved by providing a framework like the BBL to end the conflict,” Erice said.
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