Aquino holds impromptu meeting with SAF 44 families

President Benigno Aquino III invited families of the SAF 44 to an informal meeting on Monday morning, which marks the anniversary of the controversial Mamasapano operation.

“President Aquino is meeting with families of SAF (Special Action Force) troopers. They are discussing the implementation of various forms of assistance extended by the government such as housing, education, employment and livelihood assistance,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a text message to INQUIRER.net.

“President has instructed concerned government officials to exert all efforts to extend the needed assistance to the families,” he added.

The meeting started at 11 a.m. and is still ongoing as of 12:45 p.m.

A Palace official said it was the President who initiated the meeting after  “Commemoration of Heroism of the Gallant SAF 44” held in Camp Crame.

After the event, the President and the families of the SAF 44 proceeded to a room for the closed door meeting.

Accompanying Aquino were Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras and Coloma.

On January 25, 2015, 44 SAF troopers were killed in a supposed misencounter with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and other armed groups in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. At least five civilians were also killed.

One of the SAF units involved succeeded in neutralizing international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan.

Aquino has received flak in the past for his involvement in the Mamasapano operation as his critics accused him of allowing a suspended official, former Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima, to direct the covert operation. He was also criticised for his alleged lack of empathy for the families. However, he has since held meetings with the SAF 44 families to personally answer their concerns about benefits and other forms of assistance.

Coloma said it is the third meeting of Aquino with the families of the 44 slain SAF troopers, the first two in January and February last year. ASU

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