‘SAF 44’: Gallantry hailed, battlefield fiasco recalled

HONORING SLAIN COMMANDOS  President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and other officials salute the 44 members of the elite Special Action Force who died nine years ago in a clandestine antiterrorist operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, in commemoration rites held on Thursday at the Philippine National Police Academy in Silang, Cavite. —PPA POOL

BAGUIO CITY — The Special Action Force (SAF) of the Philippine National Police marked the ninth year since 44 of its troopers were killed with commemoration rites held on Thursday at the PNP Academy in Cavite and in Baguio City, where a marker pays tribute to the “14 Cordillera Braves” who died with their comrades at Mamasapano in Maguindanao.

The tragic deaths, often referred to as the Mamasapano Massacre by sympathizers of the SAF 44, resulted from a botched covert operation to capture a Malaysian bomber, Zulkifli bin Hir (alias Marwan), and local terrorist Basit Usman on Jan. 25, 2015, in Mamasapano town’s Tukanalipao village.

Cleared in court

The authorities blamed miscommunication and poor judgment for triggering a massive attack by local Muslim rebels and members of the breakaway Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) against the police commandos who were helpless without reinforcements from either the PNP or the military. The clash also killed five civilians and 18 BIFF fighters.

READ: Marcos calls for ‘kinder, gentler society’ to honor SAF44

The late President Benigno Aquino III, retired Police Director General Alan Purisima, and then SAF chief Getulio Napeñas were held liable for the operation in a fact-finding report by a team of investigators led by then police major general and now Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong.

Purisima and Napeñas were cleared by the Sandiganbayan in 2020 on graft charges and usurpation of authority. The late President was never charged.

Baguio marker

The Cordillera Police Office organized the commemoration in Baguio at the marker installed in 2021 at Camp John Hay Manor for 14 Cordillerans who were among the 44 SAF commandos.

Representatives from nine of the 14 families offered a wreath at the marker to honor the late Chief Insp. Gednat Tabdi of Benguet’s La Trinidad town, Senior Insp. Cyrus Anniban of Tabuk City in Kalinga province, PO3 Robert Allaga of Banaue town in Ifugao province, PO3 Noel Golocan of Baguio, PO2 Peterson Carap of Kabayan town in Benguet, PO2 Walner Danao of Baguio, PO2 Franklin Danao of Ifugao’s Tinoc town and PO2 Jerry Kayob, also of La Trinidad.

The marker at a garden park behind the hotel also honors PO2 Noble Kiangan of the Benguet town of Mankayan, PO2 Nicky Nacino Jr. of Baguio, PO2 Joel Dulnuan of Ifugao’s Kiangan town, PO1 Russel Bilog of Baguio, PO1 Gringo Cayang-o of Sadanga town in Mountain Province and PO1 Angel Kodiamat, also of Mankayan.

READ: VP Sara Duterte remembers heroism, sacrifices of SAF44

Magalong did not attend this year’s commemoration rites. But in his speech read for him by City Administrator Bonifacio dela Peña, the mayor said the Cordillera Braves’ families “bear a burden that most cannot comprehend,” and the whole community must continue to stand by them because the SAF 44’s sacrifice “left a void that can never be filled.”

Speaking at the National Day of Remembrance of the Heroic Sacrifice of the SAF 44, Kiangan’s widow, Christine, said the “selflessness and complete dedication” of the slain SAF members were what “connect our families,” who reunite once a year.

She was joined at the ceremony by Sandra Allaga, niece of PO2 Allaga; Larry Banagan Cayang-o, the PO1’s father-in-law; Julie Danao, mother of PO2 Walner Danao; and Edna, mother of Chief Insp. Tabdi; Felicitas, mother of PO2 Nacino; Maurice, brother of PO1 Kodiamat; Kathleen, PO1 Bilog’s sister; and John, Senior Insp. Anniban’s father, who traveled from Kalinga.

Maj. Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo, a former SAF director who now heads the PNP community relations office, said the 44 SAF troopers “played a vital role” at a crucial moment that allowed other police officers to enter Marwan’s hideout.

FALLEN COMRADES A group of police Special Action Force (SAF) troopers offer flowers on Thursday at a marker for 14 “Cordillera Braves” who were among the SAF 44 commandos killed during a secret operation to capture terrorist bombers in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, nine years earlier at a garden on the grounds of Camp John Hay Manor in Baguio City. —NEIL CLARK OCHANGCO

“[SAF 44] stood their ground,” he said, adding that “had they retreated,” teams that raided Marwan’s lair would have been killed, too.

Marwan was killed. Usman, who escaped, was killed four months later. Speaking at the remembrance ceremonies at Camp Gen. Mariano Castaneda in Silang town, Cavite, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said the tragedy had taught Filipinos to “put nation before self (and) to display courage under fire.”Still no justice

“We would also be disrespecting their memory if we give quarters to those who terrorize our people. We would be devaluing their valor if we cede our territory to those who would trespass upon it,” he said.“It is now up to us—who lived—who benefited from their full measure of devotion to duty, to build a kinder and gentler society, wherein those they have left behind can live in peace and prosperity,” Marcos said.

Napeñas, who attended the ceremonies, told reporters that there was still no justice for the commandos.

“Was there a case filed against those people who killed the 44? Until now, not yet,” he said.“I would like to see now that cases are filed against those who killed our men because they killed them—that’s murder. Some were still alive, yet they massacred them. Do you think justice has been served while no charges are filed against them?” he said.

Napeñas lamented that he, too, suffered a form of injustice after his pension benefits were forfeited one year following his retirement in 2015.

Marcos led other officials in laying wreaths at the monument honoring the SAF 44. A 21-gun salute followed this.

On Thursday, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos assured Filipinos that the Mamasapano incident would not be repeated under the Marcos administration. “We owe it to these heroes and their families to prevent another Mamasapano tragedy from happening again,” Abalos said in a statement.

Aquino responsibility

In 2017, then President Rodrigo Duterte declared Jan. 25 of every year as a National Day of Remembrance for the 44 SAF officers.

Addressing the PNP Academy graduates two months after the Mamasapano debacle, Aquino said he was taking responsibility for the tragedy.

“Regardless of my anger for the disregard for the orders I gave, regardless of my regret for trusting people who concealed the truth from me, I can never erase the fact: 44 members of our police force are dead. And this happened under my term. Let me stress it: I will bear this basic truth with me to my grave,” he said. —WITH REPORTS FROM MELVIN GASCON, NESTOR CORRALES AND INQUIRER RESEARCH