Nancy Binay files bill to declare Jan 25 SAF 44 Day

Mara Cepeda

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Nancy Binay files bill to declare Jan 25 SAF 44 Day

Rob Reyes

Senator Nancy Binay says the SAF 44 should be recognized for their 'bravery, heroism, and sacrifice'

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Nancy Binay filed a bill seeking to declare January 25 of every year a special working holiday to remember the “bravery, heroism, and sacrifice” of the 44 Philippine National Police (PNP) Special Action Force (SAF) troopers slain on the same day in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

In a statement on Sunday, August 30, Binay said she filed Senate Bill No 2916 because “the efforts of the SAF 44 will always be remembered and [are] worthy of commemoration.”

On January 25, 2015, the SAF 44 were part of a team sent to take out two “high-value targets,” alleged bomb makers Malaysian Zulkifli bin Hir, better known as “Marwan”, and Filipino Abdul Basit Usman, for the PNP’s “Oplan Exodus.” (READ: The SAF 44: Our sons, our heroes)

The government calls the hours-long gun battle in Mamasapano, a bailiwick of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, a “misencounter.” Marwan was later killed in another operation.

“These 44 heroes sacrificed their lives with only one thing in mind: to fulfil their mandate to enforce the law, prevent and control crimes, maintain peace and order, and ensure public safety and internal security,” said Binay.

“Not only did they accomplish the mission – they made the PNP-SAF proud and served as an inspiration for cadets and for other training schools and will further promote patriotism and nationalism in the country,” she added.

The senator encourages both the public and private sectors to “afford sufficient time and participate in any activity conducted in their respective localities to celebrate such a commemoration,” should the bill be approved.

The Aquino administration has been heavily criticized for “Oplan Exodus,” the bloodiest one-day operation in PNP history to date. However, President Benigno Aquino III did not mention it during his last State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Binay’s father, Vice President Jejomar Binay, then organized his own “true SONA,” where he took a swipe at Aquino’s “crooked” and “failed” government using the SAF 44. (READ: Roxas on Binay SONA: ‘Not right’ to politicize SAF 44)

VP Binay has been hitting the supposedly inept Aquino administration after resigning from the President’s Cabinet in June.

The Vice President is the standard-bearer of the opposition party United Nationalist Alliance for the 2016 elections. – Rappler.com

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Mara Cepeda

Mara Cepeda specializes in stories about politics and local governance. She covers the Office of the Vice President, the Senate, and the Philippine opposition. She is a 2021 fellow of the Asia Journalism Fellowship and the Reham al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship of the UN. Got tips? Email her at mara.cepeda@rappler.com or tweet @maracepeda.