Photo by Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net
Nearly 500 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos who fought in Marawi City will be promoted to a rank higher and will be entitled to a one-month vacation, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa promised the troops on Wednesday.
Dela Rosa announced this during the Heroes’ Welcome for the troopers at the SAF headquarters at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.
“Kahit may kumontra sa desisyon ko, sasapukin ko. Maraming magkukwestyon dyan, may mga pilosopong pulis dyan, kayo pumunta sa Marawi makipaglaban sa ISIS,” he said.
Dela Rosa, however, apologized to the officers who participated in the battle holding the rank of Police Superintendent as they will not be entitled to a spot promotion.
Aside from the promotion, Dela Rosa asked SAF commander Police Director Benjamin Lusad to allow all 496 SAF contingents in Marawi to go on a one-month break.
In an ambush interview after the program, the police chief said Lusad gave him the assurance that there will be enough troopers for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in November so the 496 troops can have a vacation.
“Although hindi ko sila nakita every time na nagbibista ako doon nakita ko ‘yung gumagampan sa kanilang mga objectives, hindi umaalis at naghihirap at talagang buhay sinusugal nila so they deserve meritorious promotion,” Dela Rosa said. /je