SAF 44 donors focus aid on calamity-stricken families in Cordillera

BAGUIO CITY—Donors here and abroad who raised P2.3 million for the families of 13 Cordilleran members of the Special Action Force (SAF) who were killed with 31 other policemen in Mamasapano, Maguindanao province, two years ago, have now focused their assistance on calamity-stricken families in the region.

Over 8,000 people raised the money through an online initiative for the SAF commandos from Baguio City, Benguet, Ifugao, Mountain Province and Kalinga who were killed on

Jan. 25, 2015, in a police operation against Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir, also known as “Marwan.”

They have since decided to raise funds for other Cordillerans in need, and now call their initiative, “Cordillera Binnadang.”

“Binnadang means we always help our own. But we do this in honor of the Cordillera heroes. Our Facebook page still uses the name, ’13 Cordillera Heroes,’ although it now deals with communities affected by calamities which need help,” said lawyer Alexander Bangsoy, one of the Baguio-based donors.

The donors started to look at the plight of other families in the Cordillera after helping the SAF widows.

They said they would post on their Facebook page an accounting of the donations as well as updates on the conditions of beneficiaries. —VINCENT CABREZA