SAF44 kin hurt by PNoy’s SONA: ‘He thanked his barber and left out police martyrs’

The relatives of the fallen members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) said President Benigno Aquino III should have at least mentioned the 44 elite policemen who were killed in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January during his sixth and last State of the Nation Address on Monday.

"Nakakalungkot po para sa part namin. Mantakin pinasalamatan lahat ultimo barbero niya. Hindi man lang binanggit iyong mga namatay na SAF44 para sa misyon nila," Celestino Bilog, father of PO1 Russel Bilog,  told GMA News Online on Tuesday.

Aside from thanking key members of his cabinet, Aquino also ran down a list of personalities he is grateful for during his SONA. This included his household help Yolly Yebes, hairdresser Cherry Reyes, and other members of his private office.   

"Hindi man lamang nabanggit o nagpasalamat ang Pangulo sa mga nagbuwis ng buhay na 44 na mga miyembro PNP-SAF. Talagang wala siyang pakialam kahit na meron na siyang tinatapakan o nasasaktang tao," Flavio Sagonoy added.

His son is 26-year-old PO1 Joseph Sagonoy, who was the youngest of the SAF troopers killed while carrying out a mission to serve arrest warrants against Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and Filipino bomb maker Abdul Basit Usman in Mamasapano.

Meanwhile, another relative of the SAF44 who refused to be named said they too can't move on until they achieve justice, quoting Aquino himself who said: "Makakamove-on lang tayo kapag nakamtan ang katarungan."

The President was talking about his constant mention of the ills of the past administration.  

"Sinabi din niya kahapon during his SONA, 'Hindi tayo makaka-move on kung hindi natin makamit ang hustisya.' Pero wala siyang planong ma-achieve ito. Hindi man lang pinuri niya or even mention ang ginawa ng Fallen 44. Ano pa ang aasahan natin? Puro positive iyong mention niya. Paano iyong mga negative?" the kin said. -NB, GMA News