Wednesday, January 13, 2016

NAPOLCOM recommends 2 SAF troopers for Medalya ng Kagitingan; confers Medalya ng Kabayanihan to 43 others

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 13): NAPOLCOM recommends 2 SAF troopers for Medalya ng Kagitingan; confers Medalya ng Kabayanihan to 43 others

The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) has recommended the conferment of the Philippine National Police (PNP) highest award on two of the 45 Special Action Force (SAF) troopers who figured in a police operation in Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao on January 25, 2015.

Recommended to President Benigno S. Aquino III for the conferment of the PNP Medal of Valor–Posthumous (Medalya ng Kagitingan) were PCINSP Gednat G. Tabdi and PO2 Romeo C. Cempron for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of their lives above and beyond the call of duty.

Conferred the PNP Distinguished Conduct Medal or Medalya ng Kabayanihan (posthumous) were the 42 SAF troopers. The same medal was also conferred on PSUPT Raymund A. Train who served as the team leader of OPLAN EXODUS that served the warrants of arrest against Zulkifli Bin Hir a.k.a. Marwan and Basit Usman.

This was announced by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary and NAPOLCOM Chairman Mel Senen S. Sarmiento after the Commission en banc issued on November 25, 2015 three (3) resolutions: No. 2015-600, No. 2015-599, and No. 2015-60.

NAPOLCOM Vice-Chairman and Executive Officer Eduardo U. Escueta said that PCINSP Tabdi was the team leader of Team 1 of the Main Effort 1, 84th Special Action Company during the implementation of OPLAN EXODUS and served as the navigator and point man in piercing and cutting through the enemy envelopments that led him and the operating teams out of annihilation. Although wounded, weakened and dehydrated in the daylong firefights, he prepared and led his troops for the showdown against the overwhelming odds that marked his gallant stand as a SAF trooper. His leadership, courage and gallantry had inspired the troopers to hack it out with the overwhelming enemy to accomplish the mission.

PO2 Cempron, on the other hand, served as the lead gunner of the Main Effort 2, 55th Special Action Company and secured the arresting teams of Marwan and Usman. While his team of 36 SAF commandos was being bombarded by the enemies in the cornfields of Sitio Tukanalipao, and without proper cover, PO2 Cempron bravely fought and made his last stand until he ran out of ammunition. He fought and stood his ground at the battlefield for five (5) hours knowing full well that the SAF was already outnumbered and with only a few of the team members surviving. At the last moment of his life, when escape could be possible, PO2 Cempron decided, instead, to help facilitate the escape of PO2 Christopher I. Lalan by using his body as a diversion for snipers so that the latter can run away from the enemies.

“The NAPOLCOM takes cognizance of the outstanding accomplishments of these SAF troopers. These heroes will always be remembered and their sacrifice will never be forgotten. The SAF 44 did not die in vain, but showed the highest form of sacrifice for our safety and for our country,” Escueta said.

Vice-Chairman Escueta said that the qualified children of awardees of PNP Medal of Valor and PNP Distinguished Conduct Medal shall be granted educational scholarship under the Reward Education Assistance Program (REAP) of the PNP.

Medal of Valor awardees are likewise entitled to several incentives and special privileges under Republic Act No. 9049 (An Act Granting Monthly Gratuity and Privileges to an Awardee of Medal of Valor). Awardees are entitled to a lifetime monthly pension of twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00). In the event of death of the awardee, the same shall accrue in equal shares and with the right of accretion to the surviving spouse until she remarries and to the legitimate, adopted or illegitimate children until they reach the age of 18 or until they marry, whichever comes earlier.

Among the benefits already received by the 44 SAF troopers from the NAPOLCOM were one-rank posthumous promotion, gratuity and pension for their families, and NAPOLCOM scholarship grant for their children.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=845956

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