13 of 15 surviving SAF troopers to leave PNP hospital Friday

PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo Jr. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–The members of the Special Action Force who survived the Mamasapano incident will be discharged from the Philippine National Police General Hospital (PNPGH) on Friday.

Thirteen of 15 survivors who made it out of the firefight with Moro rebels alive will leave the confines of the PNPGH after being treated for almost a month since the January 25 incident, the PNP spokesperson said.

However, Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr. said in a press briefing that two will have to remain at the hospital for further medical treatments.

Names of the survivors have been withheld for security reasons. But the commander of the operation against Zulkifli Bin Hir or Marwan, Superintendent Raymund Train from the 84th SAF Company, and PO2 Christopher Lalan of the 55th Special Action Company are among the 15 survivors.

“After being discharged, they will undergo a debriefing. They will leave the hospital today then they will be brought to a secured place with their families,” Cerbo said.

He said part of the survivors’ treatment is to have quality time with their families.

“They will be allowed to spend time with their families and after that, in coordination with the SAF, they will go back to their corresponding units,” Cerbo added.

In a separate interview, Chief Inspector Raymond Santos, spokesperson of the PNP Health Service, said the survivors are all mentally healthy.

Asked if any of the survivors suffered trauma of battle, Santos said: “That’s misinformation. None of them experienced war shock. The reason why the two have to remain at the hospital is because they need continued medical attention.”

But according to Cerbo, if the survivors would want to be transferred to other units outside SAF, the PNP is open for changes.

“If they feel they want to be transferred to other units, we are open to that option. We will process that. Even non-SAF, personnel, if they feel they are effective in other units, we will deliberate that,” he said.

As some of them have threats to their security, Cerbo added the PNP will readily give them security escorts if they feel that they have threats to their lives.

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