The Philippine National Police (PNP) is studying whether it can give the Medal of Valor, the highest award in the military and police service, to members of the Special Action Force (SAF) who survived during the Mamasapano operations where 44 police commandos were killed.
This is the reason according medals or even giving spot promotions to the survivors of the carnage is taking a little bit of time, according to PNP Officer in Charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina on Tuesday.
“The spot promotion of the survivors is delayed a little bit because the Medal of Valor is being considered. You can only choose one, if they will be given commendations, then it is only commendation. If they will be given spot promotions, then all other rewards will be lost,” Espina said.
“The Medal for Valor is the highest medal being given in the service, and on top of that, you will be given an additional P20,000 to P25,000 monthly salary, then one of your children is free to enter the PNPA [Philippine National Police Academy] without the benefit of any entrance exams and physical exams,” he added.
On January 25 SAF commandos operated against regional terrorist Abdul bin Hir, alias Marwan, whom they killed in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. The operation, however, resulted in the killing of 44 policemen and the wounding of several others by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.
Rene Acosta