Palace declares January 25 Nat’l Day of Remembrance for SAF 44

Malacañang has officially declared January 25 as the National Day of Remembrance for the 44 members of the police's Special Action Force (SAF), who died in the bloody Mamasapano clash in 2015.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed Proclamation No. 164, dedicating the 25th of January every year for this commemoration.

Duterte had promised to set this day of remembrance when he met with the fallen commandos' families last Jan. 24, the eve of the second anniversary of the clash.

"I ask all our countrymen to remember the heroism of the SAF 44 and recall the daily sacrifices of our uniformed personnel for the sake of the continued peace and security of our Nation," read the proclamation, signed last Feb. 21.

Earlier this month, Duterte approved the conferment of Medals of Valor-Posthumous, or the Medalya ng Kagitingan, on 42 of the members of the SAF 44.

The other two members of the group were earlier conferred the Medals of Valor by then-President Benigno Aquino III: Sr. Insp. Gednat Tabdi, the leader of Team 1 of the 84th Special Action Company, and PO2 Romeo Cempron of the 55th Special Action Company, who sacrificed himself as a human shield in order for PO2 Christopher Lalan, the clash's survivor, to move to safety.

The rest of the commandos were conferred the PNP Distinguised Conduct Medal-Posthumous, or Medalya ng Kabayanihan.  — Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/BM, GMA News