Remembering the SAF 44: A decade of unserved justice

A decade has passed since the tragic events in Mamasapano claimed the lives of 44 members of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP-SAF).

- By CHRISTINE BOTON

Yesterday, the PNP gathered to commemorate the Day of National Remembrance held at the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Grandstand at Camp Gen. Mariano N. Castañeda in Silang, Cavite.

The ceremony, attended by families of the fallen commandos, police officials and government leaders, was a solemn tribute to the memory and legacy of the SAF 44, who perished in the line of duty in that town of the then undivided Maguindanao province on Jan. 25, 2015.

On that day, the 44 SAF commandos were part of the team executing Oplan Exodus in a remote village in Mamasapano.

The operation aimed to capture two key targets: Zulkifli Abdhir, alias Marwan, a Malaysian terrorist and bomb-maker affiliated with Jemaah Islamiyah, responsible for multiple deadly bombings in the Philippines, and Abdul Basit Usman, a senior leader of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

The group successfully eliminated Marwan, but as the SAF troopers retreated, they were ambushed by guerillas from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, BIFF and other private armed groups, leading to the deaths of 44 policemen, 18 MILF members and five BIFF members.

In his speech, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla reflected on the enduring sacrifice of the SAF 44 and the challenges that remain in pursuing justice.