By Gideon C. Corgue
PAGADIAN CITY – Deep sadness gripped the family, relatives and friendsof Police
Inspector RennieTayrus, one of the 44 members of the Philippine National
Police’s (PNP) Special Action Force (SAF) slain in an encounter with the members
of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom
Fighters (BIFF) lastJan. 25 in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.
Tayrus, 28,well-trained
commando, lost his lifein that most tragic incident in the annals of Philippine
history.
In a eulogy
delivered by Tayrus’ eldest sister, Marilyn Tayrus-Sarcena, during the necrological
service last Thursdayat the Church of Christ in Barangay Sto. Nino here, she
said the whole family and relatives are grieving over the brutal killing of Rennie
and the other 43 SAF members involved in the operation against Julkipli bin Hir
alias “Marwan,” a Malaysian terrorist.
“It is very
difficult for us to accept this unfortunate incident of our brother ‘Ren-Ren’
who gave his life for the sake of our country,” said Sarcenain between sobs.
A hero
Marilyn said“Rennie
is a hero because just like his 43 comrades, he fought and died for the sake of
our beloved country.”
Indeed, he lived up
to the motto of PNPA class 2011: “Sacrifice yourself so that others may live.”
Marilyn said we are
proud that “we have brother who offered his life for our nation but what we mourned
and grieved overhis death was he is too young to die.”
A brother, second father
Marilyn said Rennie
was not only a brother but also a second father to the family. “When our father
Cresencio died in 2010, he acted as our second father,” she said.
“He wasever
responsive, eager to extend a hand and provide safety to our family,” she
added.
Loving and caring
person
“When he is far away
especiallyon missions, he would always call and text us just to check if we’reall
okay,” Marilyn recounted.
Marilyn said “when ourfather
was sick and bedridden, Renniewas hoping for his quick recovery, as he would
like to him to Manila to witness his graduation in March 2011.”
“Papa
nanghinaut ko sa madalionngapagrecoverkay kuyugonkanako sa Manila. Bisanug
bedridden kaakokangpasakyonugeroplanoaronmosaksisaakong graduation sa Philippine
National Police Academy sa Marso 2011,”Marilyn said quoting Rennie as saying.
(Father, I am hoping
for your quick recovery because I will let you go with me in Manila. Even if
you are bedridden, I will let you ridean airplane to witness my graduation at
the Philippine National Police Academy in March 2011).
His father replied, “Dili komosakayugeroplano kay kung
mahagsakiniangakongpatay’nglawasdilinamakitaninyo. Sa barkolang ko mosakay."
(I will not ride the
plane because if it crashesyou cannot find my dead body. I would prefer to ride
a boat.)
Unfortunately, his
father died in November 2010, barely five months before his graduation.
“His hard work,
dedication to his studies and success were alldedicated to our beloved father,”
Marilyn narrated.
Friend and idol
Rennie wasan idol and
friend to his nephews and nieces. He would always find time to go with them.
“During Christmas last
year, he brought them to the city oval in Pagadianfor a carnival ride. He spent
enough time just to make them happy. Little did we know that it was the last
time for their bonding,” Marilyn cried.
As a gesture of love to
their uncle, the 6-year old Francis RanierBalate, his nephew rendered a
sentimental song, a Tagalog version of “Dance with my Father,” which he personally
composed. He sang it while crying.
Responsible, service-oriented
and down-to-earth
Marilyn said
“wheneverRennieis home, he used to wear a T-shirt and short pant like an
ordinary farmer. We thought he just came from our farm.”
She also recalled
that even if his younger brother was attending a social gathering, when there’s
an urgent call from his superior, he would immediately leave and ride a single
motorcycle for Zamboanga City to go back to his barracks.
We don’t want him to
join the Special Action Force (SAF) unit of the PNP because of the risks
involved but he insisted for he wished to be one.
When we asked him
why, he said: “Wherever we go and whatever we do, we will die according to the
plan of God. There is nothing to be afraid of.”
Dedicated and devoted
When he joined the
SAF, very seldom we have himin our family.
“I told our mother
not to be worried. Instead she should accept the reality that we no longer
owned Rennie’s time. Ninety percent of his time is devoted to his work, 9 percent
to his family, and 1 percentto his lovelife,” Marilyn recalled.
No girlfriend
Marilyn said Rennie
has not yet met the right woman in his life. When I confronted and suggested
him to get marry because he had already a stable job, he quickly replied: “Marriage
is not a competition. It rather needs a thorough preparation.”
As
the dead body of Rennie was finally laid to rest at the Pagadian City cemetery,
the bereaved family is still crying for justice to the fallen police officers.
