2 Cebuano SAF troopers buried, families get P50K each

CEBU CITY, Philippines – The two Cebuano members of the Special Action Force who died in the Mamasapano clash in Maguindanao were laid to rest Sunday, February 8, in separate burial rites in Metro Cebu.

Police Officer 2 Windel Candano was buried at Cebu South Memorial Gardens in Talisay City noontime, while PO1 Romeo Cempron was brought to the public cemetery in Tayud, Consolacion town, in the afternoon.

Candano’s remains were first brought to the Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Headquarters (PNP-7), where a mass was held at the St Ignatius Chapel inside the Camp Sergio Osmeña Sr. His wake was first held in his hometown in Dumanjug.

At the police headquarters, he was given a hero’s welcome. Various units of the PNP escorted his body to the burial site, where he was given a 21-gun salute.

PO2 Candano’s wife, child, and relatives were dressed in white, with black arm bands signifying their call for justice.

Meanwhile, PO1 Cempron’s remains were first brought to the St. Jospeh Church in Consolacion town, where he and his family lived.

His wife, Dr Christine Abucay-Cempron, repeated calls for justice for her husband. Cempron is a native of Danao, Bohol province.

Acting Cebu City police chief, Superintendent Conrad Capa, was at the burial ceremonies along with other units from the PNP stations around Cebu province. A 21-gun salute was also given to the fallen trooper.

Radio station dyLA reported Cempron was buried at the Tayud public cemetery in Consolacion.

Cempron’s older brother Brecio, a detainee at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC), was allowed to attend the burial rites escorted by jail guards.  

The Cebu Provincial Board approved a resolution last week that would grant P50,000 financial aid to each of the families of the fallen SAF members.

The resolution was sponsored Vice Governor Agnes Magpale and board members Christopher Baricuatro, Miguel Magpale, and Sun Shimura. The amount will be sourced from the governor’s miscellaneous fund. – Rappler.com