Lorenzana, Querubin hit mass award of medals of valor to 42 SAF cops

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Medal of Valor awardee Ariel Querubin disagree with the government's mass awarding of the Medal of Valor to 42 Special Action Force commandos who were killed during the Mamasapano operation two years ago.

Forty-four SAF members died in the ill-fated Oplan Exodus on January 25, 2015. Two of them—Senior Inspector Gednat Tabdi at PO2 Romeo Cempron—were already awarded medals of valor during the term of former President Benigno Aquino III.

Querubin said giving the medals of valor to the 42 SAF personnel would demean the distinction of the award.

“Ayaw natin nang ganun dahil made-demean nang husto, mapo-prostitute yung award. Sa AFP dumadaan iyan sa very stringent process. HIndi pwedeng bigyan lahat sila,” Querubin said in a phone interview with GMA News Online.

“Bakit kailangang bigyan lahat, lalabas na parang pare-pareho, pantay-pantay sila nang ginawa,” he added.

The Medal of Valor is given to any police personnel who performed “a deed of personal bravery and self-sacrifice above and beyond the call of duty so conspicuous as to distinguish himself clearly above his comrades in the performance of more than ordinary hazardous service,” according to National Police Commission memorandum circular 93-018.

Lorenzana said the medal was "never given en masse."

"It is an individual award for someone who distinguishes himself conspicuously, at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty," Lorenzana said.

"The act must have required a risk of life and have displayed personal bravery or self sacrifice so extraordinary apart from his comrades,” he added in a text message.

Lorenzana said the vetting process was very strict and deliberate, and people who were on the scene of the action were interviewed to get the facts.

He said a board would then be convened to deliberate on an the award.

“I am sure that there are some who may be deserving but definitely not all of them. As I said initially there are vital criteria for the medal of valor and dying is not one of them,” Lorenzana said.

Querubin said the awarding of medals of valor to Senior Inspector Gednat Tabdi and PO2 Romeo Cempron were in order as their actions were found to be more exemplary than those of their colleagues at that time.

“Kailangan singular act kasi anong klase naman na makikipaggyera ako tapos ‘yung mga kasama ko nagtatago tapos pare-pareho kami ng award,” Querubin said.

“Nakakaawa naman ‘yung dalawa na deserving, mawawalang saysay yung ginawa nilang dalawa,” he added.

Tabdi was the leader of Team 1 of the 84th Special Action Company.

Even when he was already wounded, Tabdi still led his team to accomplish its mission.

Cempron, on the other hand, was the lead gunner of the main effort of the 55th Special Action Company.

When his fellow commandos were already dying, he sacrificed himself as a human shield in order for survivor PO2 Christopher Lalan to move to safety.

Querubin is hoping that President Rodrigo Duterte would not push through with the awarding of Medal of Valor to 42 more SAF troops.

“Ang dapat gawin ni Presidente ay bigyan na lang ng ibang awards. Sa tingin ko naman naibigay na ang lahat ng benefits na entitled sa kanila,” he said.

Malacanang earlier said that the families of the SAF commandoes had already received at least P188 million in assistance, as of January 2016.

Querubin said that the Medal of Valor given to PNP personnel should not be made equal to the Medal of Valor awarded to soldiers under the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

He said the highest award given to PNP personnel was only covered by an executive order while the medal of valor for military personnel is included in Republic Act 9049.

“Kung ia-apply katulad sa Medal of Valor, e magkaiba unless na maglegislate silang batas para doon pero sa ngayon e huwag muna nilang ipanta sa Medal of Valor (sa AFP),” Querubin said.

Duterte has approved the conferment of Medal of Valor to the 42 SAF last week upon the recommendation of the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM).

The NAPOLCOM said that despite being outnumbered, the 44 SAF commandos exhibited conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of their lives above and beyond the call of duty which resulted in the neutralization of Zulkifli Bin Hir a.k.a Marwan.

In January, the President told relatives of the SAF commandos that PNP chief Dir. Gen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa and the DILG would look into giving the remaining 42 commandos with the police's highest award. —NB, GMA News