Napolcom promotes 29 SAF survivors in Mamasapano

Twenty-nine members of the Philippine National Police's Special Action Force who survived the Mamasapano incident in January will be promoted to the next highest rank, the National Police Commission announced on Tuesday.

Napolcom vice chairman Eduardo Escueta said the police commandos' promotions for risking their lives and going beyond the call of duty.

“The courage displayed by these valiant police officers earned themselves not only the admiration of the members of the PNP but also of the people they had sworn to serve,” Escueta said in a statement.

The special promotion was based on Republic Act No. 6975 which states that any uniformed member of the PNP who has exhibited acts of conspicuous courage and gallantry at the risk of his or her life will be promoted upon validation by the Napolcom.

On January 25, some 300 members of the PNP SAF stormed Brgy. Tukanalipao in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in a covert mission to neutralize two international terrorists. The operation resulted in the killing Malaysian bomb expert Zulkifli Bin Hir a.k.a. Marwan.

However, 44 SAF members were killed in the ensuing encounter with members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and private armed groups. The Napolcom approved the posthumous promotion for the so-called SAF 44. —Andrei Medina/NB, GMA News