Manila Bulletin – Fri, Jan 30, 2015
Perhaps it is time to change the way we treat our fallen heroes.
Do you know that the 44 commandos of the Special Action Force (SAF) who paid the ultimate sacrifice after claiming to have killed Southeast Asia’s most wanted terrorist in the remote Mamasapano town in Maguindanao last Sunday have actually no place at the Libingan ng mga Bayani?
The bodies of 42 of the 44 slain police commandos were flown to Manila yesterday.
Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo Jr., newly designated spokesperson of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said that since the Libingan ng mga Bayani is managed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), policemen have already somehow accepted that they are not supposed to be there.
“We do not even approach them (AFP) to talk about it because we know there are some rules. I have not heard of a policeman buried there,” Cerbo told the Manila Bulletin in an interview.
Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, chief military information officer, echoed Cerbo’s statement. He said he does not know of a policemen buried at the “Libingan” except those who used to serve in the defunct Philippine Constabulary.
“But as far as I know, the President has a say on that,” he told the Manila Bulletin.
PUBLIC, PRIVATE CEMETERIES
So where are cops who died in counterinsurgency and anti-terrorism operations buried? Cerbo said in public and private cemeteries.
Under AFP Regulation G 161-373 or “The allocation of Cemetery Plots at the LNMB” issued on April 9, 1986, those allowed to be buried at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani are Medal of Valor Awardees; President of the Philippines as the Commander-in-Chief of the AFP; Secretary of National Defense; Chief of Staff of the AFP; General/Flag Officers of the AFP; Active and retired military personnel of the AFP; former AFP members who laterally entered and joined the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG); Veterans of the Philippine Revolution of 1896, the First and Second World War, as well as recognized guerrillas; government dignitaries, statesman and national artists, and widows of former Presidents.
“Other deceased persons” can be buried at the “Libingan” if their burial is approved by the Commander-in-Chief, Congress, or the Secretary of National Defense.
But Cerbo said the police force has its own way of honoring policeman-heroes by etching their names on the Bantayog ng mga Namayapang mga Bayani located inside Camp Crame in Quezon City.
During the time of former PNP chief Jesus Verzosa, there was a plan to develop a big parcel of land in Rizal province as the force’s own version of the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
It remained a plan after Versoza retired from the service, Cerbo said.
WAIL OF GRIEF
At 10 a.m. yesterday, three C130 cargo planes of the Philippine Air Force carrying 42 metal caskets from Maguindanao landed at the Villamor Airbase. Waiting at the grandstand were the bereaved families of the slain SAF commandos who were wailing in grief as plane taxied on the runway. The wails grew louder as the metal caskets draped with Philippine flag were carried out of the cargo plane one by one.
THERE WAS NOT A DRY EYE AT THE AIR BASE.
At least two women were rushed to nearby ambulances after falling unconscious unable to contain their grief when relatives were allowed to get near the metal caskets that were numbered to make sure the caskets contained their departed loved ones.
As soon as the arrival honors was over, the caskets were loaded in funeral cars for processing.
Relatives started to mourn their dead at the SAF headquarters in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig. Necrological service is scheduled today before they are turned over to their respective families.
FALLEN HEROES HONORED TODAY
President Aquino was not around to receive the fallen heroes at the Villamor Air Base because Palace deputy spokesperson Abigail Valte said it was not in his official schedule. Aquino graced the inauguration of the Mitsubishi plant in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, when the body of the slain commandos arrived in Villamor.
Cerbo, however, said Aquino is expected to lead the necrological rites in Bicutan today, coinciding with the observance of the National Day of Mourning for the fallen heroes of Mamasapano.
On hand to receive the fallen heroes were former President Fidel Ramos, Vice President Jejomar Binay, Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Transportation and Communication Secretary Emilio Abaya, Secretary Edwin Lacierda, Senators Bongbong Marcos and Nancy Binay, Rep. Rodolfo Biazon, PNP officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, AFP chief of staff Gregorio Pio Catapang, and former First Lady Imelda Marcos.
