The officers who took part in developing the intelligence packet for the mission against terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir or “Marwan” will be awarded with service medals, the National Police Commission announced Tuesday.
Also, the 4 Special Action Force troopers who survived the tragic raid against Marwan in Mamasapano, Maguindanao will also be recognized for showing courage during the deadly mission that killed 44 of their comrades.
National Police Commission (Napolcom) conferred the Distinguished Service Medal or Medalya ng Katapatan sa Paglilingkod on Senior Supt. Fernando Mendez Jr. and Senior Supt. Edgar Monsalve of the Philippine National Police’s Intelligence Group.
They qualified for the medal “for exhibiting exceptional performance of major responsibility as case supervisor/agent supervisor and case officer/agent handler, respectively, of the case operation ‘Asama.'”
The intelligence package for the mission, which Mendez and Monsalve developed, was presented by then suspended PNP chief Alan Purisima to President Benigo Aquino III.
“They were responsible for the intelligence package developed through this case operation which resulted in the successful neutralization of Marwan by the PNP SAF troopers,” said the Napolcom.
Meanwhile, the survivors, namely PO3 Solomon Agayso, PO3 Jovalyn Lozano, PO3 Jose Mana-ar, Jr. and PO2 Clifford Agayyong will receive the second highest service medal, the Distinguished Conduct Medal or “Medalya ng Kagitingan.”
This was “in recognition of their conspicuous courage and gallantry in action at the risk of their lives above and beyond the call of duty as members of the PNP SAF that served the warrants of arrest against Marwan and Basit Usman.”
Children of the Kabayanihan medal awardee will receive educational scholarship under the Reward Education Assistance Program of the PNP.
Awardees of PNP Distinguished Service Medals are entitled to five days leave apart from the leave credits granted under Civil Service rules and regulations.