INDANG, Cavite – Vice President Jejomar Binay paid tribute to the 44 policemen of the Special Action Force killed in operations to arrest top terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan in Maguindanao last January.
“[Sila ang] mga taong tumupad sa kanilang sinumpaang tungkulin, mga taong nag-alay ng kanilang buhay, mga taong tunay at tapat na Pilipino,” Binay said in his True State of the Nation Address on Monday.
Binay acknowledged the fallen 44 policemen by reciting their names one by one.
President Benigno Aquino III was criticized for failing to recognize the SAF 44 in his State of the Nation Address last Monday.
In his speech, Binay slammed the President for failing to acknowledge the fallen policemen in his Sona.
“Sa Mamasapano, apatnapu’t apat ang nagbuwis ng buhay at marami ang sugatan. Ngunit kahit pahapyaw, hindi nabanggit ang kanilang kabayanihan sa Sona. Kahit TY ay wala,” he said.
“Buti pa ang hair stylist at fashion designer, kasama sa mahabang listahan ng pinasalamatan,” he added.
The backdrop where Binay delivered his speech at the Cavite State University was a mural of the SAF 44 produced by Erehwon Art
Collective.
The 7 by feet 26 mural, which depicts the policemen in full combat gear and with the SAF slogan “Tagaligtas” emblazoned across the heavens, took three weeks to create.
“Hindi mabubuo ang okasyong ito kung hindi natin kikilalanin at pasasalamatan ang mga taong sumasagisag sa ating bansa. Mga taong tumupad sa kanilang sinumpaang tungkulin, mga taong nag-alay ng kanilang buhay, mga taong tunay at tapat na Pilipino. Sila ang mga kasapi ng Special Action Force na lumaban sa Mamasapano, kasama ang mga magigiting na SAF 44,” he said.
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