By
Mary May A. Abellon
DIPOLOG CITY – Police Chief Inspector Rolando H. Barraquio, president of the Philippine
National Police Alumni Association, Inc. (PNPAAI)- Zamboanga del Norte Chapter
and a former PNP Special Action Force (SAF) member believed that justice could
still be served to the 44 SAF commandos killed in an encounter with the Bangsamoro
Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Mamasapano,
Maguindanao last Jan. 25.
“Here in Zamboanga del
Norte, we believe in due process. We know that under the leadership now of
Police Deputy Director General Leonardo A. Espina, he can help give justice to
the death of our comrades,” Barraquio said in an interview.
“We have faith in him that
he is with us in this fight for justice to the 44 SAF fallen heroes,” he added.
According to him, those
PNP-SAF members who joined the “operation wolverine” to arrest the two
international terrorists, Abdul Basit Usman and Zulkifli bin Hir alias “Marwan,”
were “the best for that very important mission.”
He disclosed that before
one can be a member of SAF, he must undergo rigid trainings and test missions
in order to be fully equipped and skilled in dealing with armed enemies.
Moreover, he explained
that in special operation, they faithfully observe the “operational secrecy” as
they called it.
“In special operation like
in Mamasapano, we never disclose it to anyone even to our families and to other
people. It shall only be between and among us in order not to compromise our
operation,” he said.
Meanwhile, Barraquio led
the sympathy walk for the 44 fallen heroes with all
members of Zamboanga del Norte Police Provincial Office (ZNPPO), Dipolog police,
PNP-SWAT, SOCO, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and
Penology (BJMP) as well as some members of 101st Infantry Brigade, Philippine
Army.
They marched silently from Sta. Cruz to Dipolog
City Cathedral where they lighted candles and heard mass for their comrades.
