Napolcom promotes 10 Cordi Mamasapano SAF survivors

By Joseph Zambrano

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Ten  Cordillerans belonging  to the   Philippine National Police -Special Action Force  who  survived  the  infamous  “Mamasapano”  operation last January were among  the 29 personnel  who were  promoted recently to a rank higher.

The National Police Commission confirmed meritorious promotion of the 29 SAF personnel, for “demonstrating acts of conspicuous courage and gallantry in action at the risk of their lives over and beyond the call of duty during an armed encounter on Jan. 25 at Barangay Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao.”

Promoted to the next higher rank were PO3 JuanitoYogyog, PO2 Solomon Agayso, PO2 Adolfo Andrada, PO2 Carlos Bocaig, PO2 ArdDulnuan, PO2 Christopher Lalan, PO2 Dominick Likingan, PO2 Jose Mana-Ar, Jr., PO2 Anson Posot, and PO1 Clifford Agayyong.

Lalan was lone survivor of the 55th Special Action Company , the “blocking force”  of the Mamasapano operation where  44 SAF commandos including 14 Cordillerans were killed  in an encounter with members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front  and other armed groups.

Mana-ar Jr., a member of the 84th Seaborne Company,  thanked everyone for the recognizing their  courage,  and success  in the operation in  Mamasapano,   which led to the death of Zulkifli bin Hir, also known as “ Marwan,” a Malaysian member of the al Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiah militant group behind numerous bombing attacks in the Philippines.

He said he was thankful for the promotion because he applied and waited long before the Mamasapano operation.