Negrenses seek justice for Fallen 44

CEBU, Philippines - Residents of Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental have mourned the deaths of the 44 commandos of the PNP-Special Action Force, now known as the “Fallen 44,” and continued posting on Facebook their call for justice of those who were massacred at Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

In Negros Oriental alone, netizens rallied with a series of postings on Facebook, with a photo of one of the killed SAF troopers, Police Officer 3 Junrel Kibete, a native of Sta. Catalina in this province, expressing sympathies and condolences to the bereaved families and seeking for justice of the Fallen 44.

There were others who saluted Kibete, remembering him in their high school and college days, and calling him a “hero of Negros.” Emry J. Toralde wrote on FB: “ I salute u sir… u r a hero…thank you for defending our country even if it means giving up your life…thank you and may you rest in peace.” Mae Delmo’s post read: “thank you, Sir, for dying, so others may live. May justice be served.”

Cocoy Pagbunocan and Bong Alcaide thanked Kibete, who was their ROTC officer at the now Negros Oriental State University, “for teaching good leadership.” This single thread alone reached almost 700 “likes” and almost 200 comments, as of this writing.

What drew the most responses were the two photos posted by Chief Superintendent Augusto Marquez, Jr., deputy director of the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management in Camp Crame and former director of the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office director.

Marquez said he was touched by an FB post of Kibete’s 10-year-old daughter, Princess Urielle, who wanted a birthday present from her father on her 11th birthday yesterday. He met the girl last Friday during the necrological services for the Fallen 44 at Camp Bagong Diwa.

“She was happy and smiling, though tears were still flowing from her eyes when I told her I gave her money for her gift (through the girl’s uncle). When I asked what she asked her Papa for a gift, she replied, ‘a wristwatch’. I told her, don’t buy a watch with that money. Keep it. When you get back to Cebu, I’ll give you a watch,” said Marquez.

Marquez said the three daughters of the slain Kibete, Princess Urielle, 9-year old Antoinette Jhaenen and 7-year old Althea Isable, wailed when they saw the remains of their father in the casket, sending the halls of the camp to somber silence. Kibete, an orphan himself, relocated to Bulacan several years ago with his brother and sister but was scheduled to visit Sta. Catalina this year.

Monsignor Julius Perpetuo Heruela said he would come up with a simple memorial and tribute to Kibete and his SAF comrades who were killed in what is now tagged as the single worst event with the most number of casualties of law enforcers.

Meanwhile, members of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office and the Bacolod City Police Office joined the country in mourning the deaths of the SAF men. They staged a walk of sympathy from the Capitol to the San Sebastian Cathedral yesterday, followed by a solidarity mass for the victims and their families, and the release of 44 white balloons, representing the Fallen 44.

NOPPO director, Senior Supt. Milko Lirazan, who led the tribute to their fallen comrades, said “mourning bands” were placed on the badges of active police personnel, and black armbands were worn by non-commissioned police personnel. Philippine flags around the province were also lowered into half-staff, he added.

Bacolod City Representative Evelio Leonardia, for his part, had pushed for the creation of a Truth Commission to “ferret out the truth behind the massacre of our troops.” — (FREEMAN)