THE kin of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) troopers who were killed in the botched Mamasapano operation in 2015 continue to seek justice for their loved ones.
Helen Ramacula, mother of late Police Officer 2 Rodel Ramacula, said it has been four years since the death of the SAF 44 but justice for their killing is still elusive.
She said they are still searching for those who take part in the bloody incident so they will be held liable for their actions.
“Until now, wala pa rin kalutasan ang problemang yan. Sana naman po may justice naman (Until now, the killings have not yet been resolved. I hope justice will be served),” she said.
Ramacula attended the wreath-laying ceremony for the SAF 44 at the SAF memorial park in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City during the Mamasapano incident anniversary on Friday, January 25.
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde and SAF newly-appointed director, Chief Superintendent Amado Empiso, led the ceremony, which remembers the heroism of the 44 SAF troopers.
On January 25, 2015, over 300 SAF members under Oplan Exodus were sent to Tukanalipao, Mamasapano in Maguindanao to serve arrest warrants on two Malaysian terrorists and bomb experts Abdul Basit Usman and Zulkifli Bin Hir, also known as Marwan.
The SAF commandos successfully neutralized Marwan, while Usman was able to elude arrest.
As the SAF troopers were pulling out from Marwan’s lair, they engaged in a firefight with Moro rebels.
Forty-four SAF troopers and 23 members of the rebel groups were killed in the bloody clash.
The operation was led by then suspended PNP chief Alan Purisima and then SAF director Getulio Napeñas.
Over 90 members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and private armed groups have been facing criminal charges over the bloody encounter.
Purisima and Napeñas were also charged before the Sandiganbayan over the incident.
In his speech, Albayalde comforted the family of the SAF 44 and reminded them that the sacrifices of their loved ones will never be in vain.
“We know that the pain will linger even longer in the hearts of their families -- the parents, spouses and young children they left who had to start life over again without their loved ones. And while no amount of words or tributes may ease the pain in their hearts, we want them to know that the sacrifices of their loved ones will never be in vain,” he said.
“They have become heroes whose deeds now serve to inspire every member of the PNP to fight harder for God and country and whose gallantry and sacrifice now hold a special chapter in the history of the police service,” he added.
Meanwhile, aside from justice, Ramacula said they have not yet received in full the financial benefits promised by the government, particularly the one that would be coming from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
“Yung first grant pa lang. Mga P300,000 yata ‘yon (lahat), mga 70 percent pa lang ang nabibigay, ‘yong 30 percent hindi pa,” she said.
(We received the first grant, which was around P300,000. Only 70 percent was given; not yet the 30 percent.)
“Dapat nandoon na kasi sabi nila once maipasa ‘yong requirements, nandyan na. Hindi ang SAF, sa DSWD ‘yan... Sila na ang bahala n’yan, sila naman ang may hawak. Nag-aantay lang naman kami kung kailan nila ibibigay. Mahirap naman ‘yong sabihin pa namin. Umaasa pa talaga kami, kasi meron naman kaming mga papel,” she added.
(The financial benefits should be ready by now because we already passed the requirements. It's with the DSWD. We are just waiting for the release. We are still hoping since we already have the papers.) (SunStar Philippines)