Mar Roxas condolence to SAF men’s family delayed, not selective—office

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, condoles with the widow of PO2 Peterson Indongsan Carap, one of the 44 Special Action Force members killed in Mamasapano town, Maguindanao, on Jan. 25. RICHARD BALONGLONG/INQUIRER NORTHERN LUZON FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas neither “ignored” nor was he “selective” in condoling with relatives of the 44 members of the police Special Action Force (SAF) slain in Mamasapano town, Maguindanao, his office stressed on Sunday.

The Office of the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government issued a clarification after the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported on the lament of the mother of PO3 John Lloyd Sumbilla of Morong, Bataan.

The lament came out in the story “SAF man’s dying wish: P100 load,” which INQUIRER.net posted on its website on Saturday, February 7, 2015.

“We were ignored,” said Telly Sumbilla, 62, after Roxas failed to go to their house on Wednesday last week, February 4, 2015, after he had visited the families of other slain police commandos in northern Luzon.

The grief of Sumbilla’s family was reportedly heightened since they were first told that Roxas would be coming the day earlier, Tuesday, but the secretary was a no show.

In the story, the mother was also quoted as saying, “My son paid for his life. He was returned to me without hands and feet, my poor child.”

The elder Sumbilla expressed her disappointment since, after two days of waiting, Roxas still did not come. Only Chief Supt. Carmelo Valmoria, director of National Capital Region Police Office, and Chief Supt. Noli Taliño, acting SAF director, turned up at her son’s wake.
Also, Roxas reportedly failed to attend the burial of another slain SAF commando, PO3 Junrel Kibet, in San Jose del Monte City.

In a statement sent to INQUIRER.net, the office of Roxas said it wanted to “clear the story … claiming that SILG Roxas was selective and was not available to condole with the families” of Sumbilla and Kibete.

It explained that Roxas planned to go to Bataan and Bulacan but “was called to a meeting in the Palace by the President.”

“Though he was not able to go to Bataan and Bulacan last Wednesday as planned … he went to Bataan on Thursday early morning and personally talked to the mother and wife of Sumbilla. He did the same thing to Kibete family in Bulacan immediately after the Sumbilla visit,” the office of Roxas said.

In Bataan, Roxas grieved with the mother of Sumbilla and his wife, Rachel. Afterwards, the secretary condoled with the family of Kibete in San Jose del Monte, the office said.

Roxas reportedly assured the family of Kibete: “Kung ano ang pangarap ni Jun Rel sa inyo ay matutupad.” (The dream of Jun Rel for you will happen.)

It stressed that there were “no ‘selective’ help, ’selective’ compassion, and ‘selective’ promises made.”

“All the financial, educational, livelihood, medical, housing and other forms of assistance were offered to the families. They were the ones who decided how we could help them most,” the interior secretary’s office added. CB

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