Widow on cash aid: What do I do with it?

A POLICEMAN in Cebu City shows a black ribbon he would wear to join the mourning for 44 police commandos slain in Maguindanao. TONEE DESPOJO/CEBU DAILY NEWS

CEBU CITY—What to do with the money?

The widow of one of 44 police commandos, who died in a covert operation to get international terrorist Marwan on Jan. 25, had this question after receiving P97,000 in cash donated by private individuals and supporters of the Central Visayas regional police force.

Dr. Christine Cempron, widow of PO2 Romeo Cempron, was teary eyed when she, and two other widows of police commandos received the cash donations during a flag ceremony of the regional police headquarters on Monday.

Interviewed after the ceremony, Christine expressed thanks but said she has no idea where to use the money on, knowing fully well it can’t buy her husband’s life.

She said the money could just end up as a reminder of the violent death of her husband.

Christine said she is trying to accept the fate that befell her husband but not letting go of her call for justice for her husband and the 43 other members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (SAF) who were killed in a covert operation that authorities said succeeded in getting Marwan but miserably failed to protect the commandos.

According to Christine, the truth behind the deaths of the commandos, could help her bring closure.

She said Alan Purisima, a close friend of President Aquino and former chief of the PNP, should have resigned “a long time ago.”

Christine also demanded that copies of results of investigation into the carnage be furnished the widows and families of the SAF men.

Christine claimed that her husband’s bravery has rubbed off on her.

“He teaches me to be brave,” she told reporters.

Another widow, Michelle Candano, said she appreciates the donations.

Relatives of another slain SAF member, PO3 Junrel Narvas Kibete, accepted the donations on behalf of Kibete’s wife, who is in Manila.

Chief Supt. Prudencio Banas, regional police director, said the donations were just “a token” of Cebuanos’ appreciation of the heroism of the fallen commandos.

At the flag ceremony, envelopes containing cash had been handed over to the widows by businessmen.