Stop politicizing SAF44, Marcos told

VICE presidential candidate Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. should stop using for his selfish political ends the  families of the 44 Special Action Forces (SAF) commandos who died in the botched Mamasapano mission in January last year, a Malacañang official said yesterday.

“It’s tragic that Senator Marcos is looking for ways to politicize this tragedy,” said Communications Underscretary Manolo Quezon.

Marcos held a closed-door meeting with some of the families of  the  SAF commandos last Friday during a side trip during his campaign rally in Baguio City. Marcos said after the meeting that the SAF 44 relatives had yet to receive the aid promised by the government.

“Their report wasn’t good. They were surprised to hear news from newspapers and television that they had already received the promised aid from the government which they say is not true at all,” said Marcos.

“More than the benefits and financial assistance, what the SAF families want is justice, and those accountable to be punished,” he added.

Quezon said that whatever Marcos was claiming was between himself and the individuals he talked to in Baguio.

“We stand by the assistance and the reports of assistance that have been extended. We believe that the majority, if not all the families, would know what the government has done for them and it has been done sincerely and with full good faith and with the highest degree of concern for their needs,” said Quezon.

Malacañang announced that as of January 2016 or a year after the bloody incident,  it had released a total of P188 million in cash, scholarships, housing, livelihood assistance and other assistance to the families of the slain troopers.

But Marcos said the families complained that they have not received all the livelihood and housing assistance that was promised them.