STAR launches #SaluteToThe44

MANILA, Philippines - They were once husbands, fathers, brothers and sons; some of them were breadwinners, others well-loved members of one-horse towns from far-off provinces.

The so-called Fallen 44 were needlessly slain in an unfortunate encounter between government forces and rebels amid fragile peace in a restive region.

As their metal caskets arrived in Manila, borne on the shoulders of their comrades-in-arms, the nation mourned with their families, joining calls for truth and justice.

These men underwent strict and rigorous training to become part of the elite commando force. They were out to defend the nation and its people against various threats, both foreign and domestic.

They also served when the country faced its greatest natural catastrophe, helping in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda.

The Philippine STAR honors the service of these slain men in uniform and extends its sincerest condolences to the bereaved families and loved ones. For this purpose, The Philippine STAR Media Group has launched a fund drive through its Operation Damayan, collecting an initial P700,000 to assist the families of the #Fallen44.

“We want to do our share to help the families of our fallen Special Action Forces (SAF) men. Many of them left behind young children who will need financial assistance even for their most basic needs. These heroes gave their lives fighting for our security. The fact that we sleep soundly at night in the safety of our homes we owe to them. To help take care of their family’s future is the least we can do. We salute their courage and thank them for their sacrifice,” said Philippine STAR president and CEO Miguel Belmonte.

The initial funds that will go to the fallen heroes of SAF were donated by Philstar Daily Inc., P100,000; Pilipino Star Ngayon, P100,000; Pilipino Star Printing, P100,000; RCE, P100,000; MGB, P100,000; TGFHA_LV, P100,000; and IGB, P100,000.

Donations to #SaluteToThe44 may be sent to The Philippine STAR Operation Damayan c/o MBTC Aduana Branch Savings Account No. 151-7-15152422-9. Please email deposit slip to [email protected] or fax no. 527-6857 for confirmation.

Scholarships, housing units

Each and every family of the 44 slain SAF commandos will also be receiving at least P800,000 in financial assistance, on top of scholarships for their children and housing units, from the national government.

“Each family will initially receive a minimum of P800,000 in cash, excluding monthly pension benefits,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in an email sent to reporters.

After giving the families of 41 SAF members the Medalya ng Katapangan, the PNP equivalent of the military’s Gold Cross Medal, during the necrological services yesterday, President Aquino talked to each bereaved family to express his condolences, said Coloma.

Two of the 44 slain SAF men had already been buried in Muslim rites, while another was sent to his home in Bicol.

Aquino stayed at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City until early evening yesterday, where he talked extensively with widows, children, parents and family members of the slain members of the elite force.

“Scholarship assistance will also be given to their children, as well as employment and livelihood assistance to their widows, siblings and parents,” disclosed Coloma, who was among the Cabinet members accompanying the President as he asked the bereaved families how the government could provide assistance.

Other benefits for each family include lifetime pension, gratuity equivalent to one-year salary, additional pension for the next five years, Pag-IBIG Fund death benefits, insurance benefits and commutation of leaves.

“He is listening to them express their sentiments. He is expressing to them sympathy and condolences and reiterating that the government is determined to render justice to the fallen troopers,” the Palace spokesman said.

“The President is also discussing specific assistance that the government is extending in terms of employment and livelihood, education, housing, health and wellbeing of family members,” Coloma added.

Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II and PNP officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina were also directed “to ensure that the families receive all of the benefits due them within the shortest time frame possible.”

Aquino was accompanied by Roxas, Coloma, Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, Education Secretary Armin Luistro, acting Health Secretary Janette Garin, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) director general Joel Villanueva, National Housing Authority (NHA) general manager Chito Cruz and Presidential Management Staff chief Julia Abad.

Likewise, the leadership of the House of Representatives has moved to provide financial assistance to the families of the slain SAF commandos.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., with Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II, Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora and House committee on accounts chairman Eleandro Jesus Madrona, filed House Resolution 1865 providing for such assistance.

“The entire nation mourns the death of these brave soldiers/policemen, considered modern-day heroes who laid down their lives in the call of duty,” they said.

House members voluntarily pledged a contribution of P10,000, which will be deducted from their salaries.

No less than five separate resolutions have been filed in the chamber expressing condemnation of the incident and seeking congressional investigation, in aid of legislation, on the circumstances that led to the fatal encounter.

Heroes’ burial

The independent bloc led by Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez will file on Monday a resolution calling for the burial in the Libingan ng mga Bayani of the slain policemen.

Romualdez said even if the Libingan is primarily for former presidents and their widows, top government and military officials and personnel, “there is no question that the fallen SAF commandos are heroes in their own right.”

“It would be the highest honor we can bestow on them for their martyrdom,” he said.

He said under the rules, even non-military personnel can be buried in the Libingan if it will be approved by the commander-in-chief, the Congress or the defense secretary.

“Among the non-military personnel buried in the Libingan are former vice presidents Arturo Tolentino and Salvador Laurel, Sen. Blas Ople and National Artists,” Romualdez said.

“They (SAF men) were on a mission to arrest two international terrorists. When they were fired upon, they fought to the last man instead of surrendering. Without hesitation, they gave up their lives to ensure the success of their mission,” Romualdez said.

“With their deaths, the fallen SAF commandos saved the lives of countless others who could have been killed by the bombs their terrorist targets were notoriously known for. They deserve nothing less than a hero’s burial,” he said.

Bank account for donations

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has opened a bank account with the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) for families and dependents of the slain SAF troopers.

Donations could be deposited under the account name “DSWD - Armed Conflict Mamasapano, Maguindanao” with account number 3122-1026-28.

The DSWD also started locating the families for the provision of psycho-counseling and other assistance.

“We already have the list (of families and their locations) and we will begin the psychosocial counseling to the families and in that process, we will identify also what are the areas of support that they will need given the situation,” Soliman said.

Soliman said that the areas of further support will likely be in education and livelihood.

The DSWD chief noted that a P5,000 cash support has already been issued to the families of two civilians who perished in the clash last Sunday.

She said that the DSWD is also assisting two other civilians who were hurt and are currently in the hospital, to whom P10,000 has already been issued.

The DSWD had also distributed 600 food packs to the Mamasapano madrasah (school) that served as an evacuation center.

Additional monetary assistance

Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara urged his colleagues in Congress to work on passing a bill that would ensure all the families left behind by the slain policemen would be taken care of by the government.

Angara is pushing for the approval of Senate Bill 2594 or the Magna Carta for the PNP Uniformed and Non-Uniformed Personnel, which he filed in response to the incident in Maguindanao.

Under the bill, the family or beneficiary of any PNP personnel, uniformed and non-uniformed, who is killed or becomes totally and permanently incapacitated while in the line of duty, would be entitled to a special financial assistance equivalent to six months’ salary, including allowances and bonuses, tax-free.

All surviving children of the deceased or permanently incapacitated PNP personnel would also be extended scholarship up to college, while the surviving spouse would be given priority in employment in a government agency or office where his/her qualifications are fit.

If the spouse is already employed or not employable or if he/she waives the employment privilege, the employable son or daughter will be granted this privilege.

“While we are seeking justice, let us not forget and neglect the families and loved ones who were left behind. It is only proper that they be given all the support and care – a small gesture compared to the heroism and sacrifice that our policemen give for the nation,” Angara said.

For the members of the PNP who are deployed in remote areas or isolated situations and exposed to hardship and combat situations or other hazards unusual to peacekeeping, crime prevention and investigation activities, the bill provides that they would be compensated with a remote assignment allowance and special hardship allowance, similar to combat pay of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), equivalent to at least 50 percent of their monthly basic salary, respectively.

If any PNP personnel is injured or wounded in the performance of his/her official duties, the government shall shoulder his/her hospitalization expenses.

PNP personnel would also be entitled to cost of living, clothing, quarters and subsistence allowances, and a longevity pay of 10 percent of their basic monthly pay for every five years of continuous, efficient and meritorious service in the government.

The PNP would also have a salary scale separate and distinct from the other agencies of government in order to attract the best and competent applicants.

Angara pointed out that the salary scale of the PNP would be adjusted to make it comparable to the average salary scale of law enforcement agencies in the Asian region.

A package of benefits such as reasonable leaves and retirement programs, and a holistic PNP development program which includes provisions on merit promotions, performance evaluation, in-service training, overseas and local scholarships, training grants and incentive award system would also be provided to members of the PNP.

“This proposed Magna Carta seeks to put dignity into the country’s premier police force. The government should provide support to foster a highly efficient and competent PNP. It’s the least we can do as they put their lives at stake in their commitment to preserve peace and order and protect the lives of Filipino people,” Angara said.

Angara explained that the purpose of the proposed magna carta for PNP personnel is to codify all existing rights and benefits of the PNP that are provided in different laws, resolutions and other circulars.

Meanwhile, former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada is giving P100,000 each to the bereaved families of the 44 slain police officers.

In a phone interview, Estrada said the money will be coming from his own funds and the donations of some of his well-meaning friends.

Estrada said the slain commandos need not only posthumous medals and plaques for their heroism.

“These policemen are also poor. Their families need immediate financial support. We have to acknowledge their sacrifices for the country and the Filipino people with meaningful help,” he said.

North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño Mendoza is also extending a P10,000 endowment package to each of the families of the SAF men.

Mendoza said she has tasked her subordinates at the provincial capitol in Amas District in Kidapawan City to immediately establish contact with families of the slain members of the elite force to hasten the release of the individual cash grants.

“This is just a little help from the people of the province. The amount is nothing if compared to the ‘supreme sacrifice’ of these SAF commandos, so committed to address terrorism, whose ugly image we have also been seeing in our province,” said Mendoza.

Residents of North Cotabato, which covers 17 towns and 40 barangays in its capital Kidapawan City, have witnessed deadly bombings in the province in recent months, blamed on groups identified with Marwan and Usman, who were SAF’s high-value targets during the operation.

The PNP Officers’ Ladies Club (PNPOLC) is also soliciting donations for “additional financial assistance” for the fallen SAF commandos.

The fund drive is spearheaded by Cecilia Migrace Felix, president of the PNPOLC and the wife of Chief Superintendent Manuel Backong Felix, whose brother is a SAF officer.

In their solicitation letter dated Jan. 29, Felix stressed that the PNPOLC is a legitimate organization, which is registered with the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Felix is asking donors to deposit their monetary assistance to an account with the LBP that was created by the PNP: Account name: PNP Special Assistance Fund, with account number 1862-1027-77.

Chingbee Muñoz-Marfori, the wife of a Unilab executive, said she vouches that the fund drive is authentic, as she got the letter from Maridee Espina, wife of the acting PNP chief.

Donors may contact through text Chief Inspector Renante Pinuela of the PNP Directorate for Comptrollership (DC) at 0917-8576020 for details of the donation. – With John Unson, Jose Rodel Clapano, Lalaine Jimenea, Roel Pareno, Janvic Mateo, Raymund Catindig, Marvin Sy, Paolo Romero, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Rainier Allan Ronda, Delon Porcalla, Epi Fabonan III