Grief, anger from kin during arrival honors for fallen PNP-SAF men

"Bakit nangyari ito? Nasaan kayo?"

 

Unable to contain his emotions, this was what one man asked high-ranking government officials on Thursday during the arrival honors for Philippine National Police-Special Action Force members who were killed in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao last Sunday.

 

No one could answer the man, a kin of one of the commandos killed in the ill-fated operation. No one could calm him down.

 

From a distance, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima was seen drying her eyes with a handkerchief. 

 

Even before three C-130 planes arrived at Villamor Air Base with the remains of 42 elite cops, the grandstand at the facility's tarmac was filled by the wails of their family members. Two other slain officers were earlier laid to rest in Zamboanga City in accordance to Islamic rites. 

It was the direct opposite of the scene at the airbase just two weeks ago, when a joyous and energetic crowd welcomed the arrival of Pope Francis for a five-day state visit and apostolic journey. 
 

When the 42 caskets began to be lifted off the planes, the sky, once warm and bright, turned cloudy, as though sharing in the grief of the families.

 

When victims' kin were finally allowed near the caskets, some wept out loud, while others teared up silently. They had lost husbands, fathers, sons, brothers, cousins, and partners in life.

 

A pregnant woman was rushed to an ambulance after breaking down beside the casket of her fallen husband.

 

Even proud men and women in uniform could not help but shed tears as well for the Fallen 44, who were caught in a firefight against members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and its splinter group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. Their mission was to arrest two suspected terrorists — Malaysian Jemaah Islamiyah leader Zulkifli bin Hir also known as Marwan and Filipino bomb maker Abdulbasit Usman — who were confirmed to be hiding in the area.

 

Black ribbons

 

From VIPs to relatives of the slain cops, most of the guests donned a black ribbon on their left arm. 

 

Among the cabinet officials that were present during the event were Vice President Jejomar Binay, De Lima, Interior Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas, Transport Secretary Joseph Emilio "Jun" Abaya, and Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda.

 

Other notable guests were former President Fidel V. Ramos, Ilocos Norte Representative Imelda Marcos, Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, and Sen. Nancy Binay.

 

President Benigno Aquino III absence was noticeable. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said that Aquino was not scheduled to attend the event, but was set to attend the necrological service for the slain policement on Friday.

 

While some of the families welcomed the gesture of the high-ranking officials, some were also irked.

 

"Sana huwag pairalin ang pulitika. Hindi nakakatulong," Ann De La Cruz, kin of a fallen cop, told GMA News Online after the two-hour arrival honors.

 

"I don't see the sincerity. Walang sincerity sa kanila," she added. —JST, GMA News