Roxas: No last-minute withdrawal of SAF 44 members from list of PNP awardees

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas on Friday denied that there was a last minute withdrawal of the names of Special Action Force commandos involved in the Mamasapano operation from the list of awardees for the Philippine National Police service anniversary.

 

He said the PNP tried to include the names of Supt. Raymund Train, a survivor of the Mamasapano incident, and slain SAF member PO2 Romeo Cempron the papers did not make it to the deadline.

 

“Nabasa ko yung report ng PNP at pino-process nila yung mga papeles, nais nilang ihabol but really the awards are for last year, for the 2014 acts of the PNP,” Roxas said in an interview after the turnover of firetrucks to local government officials held at Camp Vicente Lim.

 

“They were trying to do their best na kahit 2015 nangyari ito, na naganap ang Mamasapano incident, triny na ihabol pero hindi naihabol,” he added. 

 

Told that some of the families were reportedly holding grudges against the Aquino administration because they feel neglected, the Interior secretary said he did not receive such feedback from the relatives they have talked to.

 

“Alam ninyo, with due respect, kung sino man itong mga nagrereklamo, sabihin na lang. Dahil kausap namin ang pamilya, malinaw sa kanila na napasakanila agad-agaran lahat ng benepisyo na ayon sa batas at ayon sa reglamento ay mapasakanila,” he said.

 

"Pangalawa, yung mga dagdag na tulong na hiningi nila sa Pangulo kung hindi man kalahati ay naibigay na at tinatrabaho pa yung balanse. Ginagawa natin ang lahat para maibalik sa regular ang kanilang pamumuhay bagama’t kinikilala natin na talagang mahirap ito dahil nawalan sila ng mahal sa buhay, ng asawa, ng anak. Lahat ng iba pang pisikal o materyal  na tulong ay ginagawa natin para naman hindi masyadong mabigat ang kanilang pagbabalik sa normalidad,” he added.

 

Roxas futher said that the widows and parents of the SAF members themselves have already stated their take on the supposed move of some to use their issue for personal political interest. — JDS, GMA News