SAF trooper on fallen colleagues: They were young, they were the best

"Sila 'yung mga magagaling, pero mga bata pa sila."

 

This was how one of the members the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (SAF) described his colleagues who died in a clash with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members in Mamasapano town, Maguindanao, last Sunday.

 

The SAF officer, who refused to be named for lack of authority to speak with media, said he was even classmates with some of those who were killed.

 

"Tatlong taon pa lang kami nagse-serbisyo, pero alam kong magagaling ang mga 'yan kasi kahit tatlong taon pa lang, marami na kaming combat training," he told GMA News Online after the necrological services for the fallen men on Friday.

 

He also noted that most of the slain elite police officers were in their twenties — with 26-year-old PO1 Joseph Gumatay Sagonoy as the youngest.

He said he can't help feel that it could have been him who died in Mamasapano last Sunday.

"Siyempre, kung i-assign kami, pupunta kami," he said, adding that he is currently assigned in Manila.

 

On Sunday, 44 elite policemen were killed in what authorities call a "misencounter".

 

Before the clash, the PNP personnel were on the trail of suspected international terrorists believed to be hiding in the area, which is controlled by the MILF.

The government and the MILF have formed panels that will investigate the clash. — JDS, GMA News