PNP-SAF trooper: Philippines not always worth dying for

A grieving Philippine National Police-Special Action Force trooper on Sunday spit back the famous words of the late Sen. Ninoy Aquino in his dismay at the deaths of 44 of his comrades in a firefight in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao.
 

"This country is not worth dying for sir, kung ang gobyerno natin, sir, hindi kami kayang protektahan," the elite police officer told Interior Secretary Mar Roxas in an open forum at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig on Sunday.


 

Aquino, who was assassinated upon his return to the Philippines in 1983, famously quipped that the Filipino is worth dying for. 

 

But the SAF troopers said that there was a limit to that sacrifice, saying they also expected the government to protect them, even as they served the country.

 

"May galit din kami kasi kung maaga talaga na [nagpadala ng] reinforcement, may chance na mabuhay sana ang karamihan," another SAF trooper said.

 

Still another trooper took the chance to tell Roxas about the many sacrifices troopers have to endure for their job, including leaving their families.

 

"As my son said, 'Daddy, can't you just resign and look for another job? Much better and safe and always with us?'" the emotional SAF trooper said.

 

Roxas met with the PNP-SAF Sunday afternoon to share their grief after 44 of their members perished, and 16 others were injured, in an hours-long firefight with members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front last weekend. 

 

The elite police force entered the MILF territory to serve a warrant of arrest to Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir alias Marwan, where a “misencounter” occurred.

 

But Roxas, who also serves as head of the National Police Commission, had his own gripes. Clearly emotional, the secretary said he had questions himself, starting from why he was not informed of the ill-fated mission.

 

"I have no words of comfort. Alam nating lahat 'yung feeling na nalagasan ng tao. Kung alam ko 'to, baka may naitanong ako. Hindi nga ako nabigyan ng pagkakataong siguraduhin 'yung koordinasyon, dahil nga ano ang iko-koordinate ko, eh hindi ko nga alam," Roxas said.

 

In a televised address earlier last week, President Benigno Aquino III admitted that suspended PNP Director General Alan Purisima was aware of the operation. However, Aquino could not say why Roxas was kept in the dark. — Patricia Denise Chiu/JDS/KG, GMA News