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Colleagues remember Fallen 44: ‘We share the pain’

By AMANDA FERNANDEZ, GMA News

(Updated 12:06 p.m.) "We know your names, we know your faces, we will never forget how we fought together."
 
This was what Col. Danilo Pamonag of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Special Operations Command said at the eulogy during the necrological services Friday at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig for the 42 elite policemen killed in a "misencounter" in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao last Sunday. Two other policemen were earlier buried in Mindanao according to Muslim tradition.

The 44 men from the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force figured in an 11-hour gunfight with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and its splinter group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters while the policemen were on a mission to serve arrest warrants on Malaysian Zulkifli Bin Hir alias Marwan and Filipino bomb-making expert Basit Usman. Twelve PNP-SAF personnel were wounded.

Usman has links to Jemaah Islamiyah and the Abu Sayyaf Group. As early as 2009, the US Department of State has offered a $1 million reward for information leading to the location, arrest and/or conviction of Usman.
 
Meanwhile, up to $5 million reward was offered by the US Department of State for the capture of Marwan, a member of JI's central command. He was believed to be conducting bomb-making training for the Abu Sayyaf Group.
 
Pamonag explained that his unit has worked with some of the slain PNP-SAF men in some missions, including the Zamboanga siege.
 
"Dalawang miyembro ng SAF ang nasawi, pero ang pagkamatay nila ay nagresulta sa pagkaligtas ng mga tao," he said.
 
After the siege, Pamonag said they got together again with the PNP-SAF unit in April to plan the serving of the arrest warrant against Jemaah Islamiyah leader Zulkifli bin Hir a.k.a. Commander Marwan.
 
"Noong Abril, muli kaming nagkasama ng SAF sa isang misyon para tugisin ang pag-aresto kay Marwan. Isang misyon na matagal na pinaplanuhan," he said.
 
"We have shared the challenges, we have shared the difficulties, and now, we share the pain with you," he lamented.

 
Ending his speech, Pamonag said, "Sa ating mga kasamahang ngayon ay nakalimbay, isang payapang paglalakbay."

As he was speaking, the atmosphere  was somber. Most of those present, including members of the grieving families, were in tears. A relative of one of the fallen cops couldn't contain her emotions and wept out loud amid the embrace of those who wanted to comfort her.

For his part, Police Chief Insp. Victor Lacwasan, member of the PNP-SAF, remembered his colleagues for going beyond their duties.
 
"Alam nila ang paghihirap ng mga tao sa Mindanao, kaya patuloy silang nanatili para makatulong—even beyond their duties," he said.

 
He also noted that though their unit may have not been known to the public, the members have been fighting their all for the safety of the people.
 
"Hindi niyo pa kilala ang SAF na noon pang nandito. Baka hindi niyo alam na may ganitong unit. Hindi kasi ito ipinababalita," he said.
 
"Sa mga nakahimlay sa ating harap, pati sa mga sugatan at naiwang mga buhay—sila ang mga panibago nating mga bayani," he said. —with a report from Amita Legaspi/KG/LBG/JST, GMA News
Tags: mamasapanoclash, specialactionforce
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