Pres. Duterte declares Jan. 25 as day of national remembrance for SAF 44

The 44 elite forces of the Philippine National Police (PNP) were part of the 392-member SAF team which carried out ‘Oplan Exodus’ to arrest international terrorist and bomb expert Zulkifli Abdhir alias Marwan and Filipino bomb maker Abdul Basit Usman. (Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office)

MANILA –President Rodrigo Duterte has signed Proclamation No. 164 declaring January 25 of every year as a day of national remembrance for the heroic sacrifice of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) troopers killed in Mamasapano encounter in 2015.

The 44 elite forces of the Philippine National Police (PNP) were part of the 392-member SAF team which carried out ‘Oplan Exodus’ to arrest international terrorist and bomb expert Zulkifli Abdhir alias Marwan and Filipino bomb maker Abdul Basit Usman.

The SAF troopers were able to kill Marwan but the ensuing nine-hour firefight with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) fighters resulted in the killing of 63 people, including 44 SAF troopers.

”As the nation honors the memory of the SAF 44, their heroism also serves as a constant reminder of the continuing sacrifices being made by our valiant uniformed men and women in the line of duty,” stated in the Proclamation released by the Palace on Sunday.

President Duterte asked the Filipino people 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.

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Two of the 44 SAF troopers were awarded Medal of Valor by former President Benigno Aquino III while the remaining 42 will be conferred Philippine National Police (PNP)’s Medalya ng Kagitingan as directed by President Duterte.

The PNP’s Medalya ng Kagitingan is the highest award in the police service similar to the Medal of Valor of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).