Media organizations based in Yolanda-hit Tacloban City on Thursday will lead several events in honor of the 44 members of PNP Special Action Forces (SAF) who were massacred in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January 25.
Dubbed as “Salamat Again Friend” (SAF), Tacloban media called on the local residents to join the Eucharistic Celebration on Thursday afternoon at the Sto. Nino Church followed by a wreath laying ceremony and candle lighting at the Noblejas junction in honor of the 40th day anniversary of the fallen policemen.
“In acknowledging its noble efforts extended by PNP Special Action Forces (SAF) after Super Typhoon Yolanda, the same group who died at the Mamasapano incident the 44 SAF commandos were in Tacloban days after the November 8, 2013 Yolanda devastation, to extend their services in protecting the city and its rescue operation,” said media coordinator Gay Gaspay of the Tacloban Media Special Advocacy Team.
Supporting the events are the newly organized National Press Club-Tacloban, Express It At The Park (EIATP), National Union of Journalist of the Philippines (NUJP), Kapisanan ng mga Broadcasters sa Pilipinas (KBP), PNP Press Corp, together with the City Government of Tacloban led by Mayor Alfred Romualdez, Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Office 8, Tacloban Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Tacloban City Police Office, and TOMECO.
“It’s about time we pay back forward with prayers for our fallen friends,” said Eileen Ballesteros, president of NPC-Tacloban.
According to the police in Eastern Visayas, six members of the “Fallen 44” were from the region.
They were PO1 Mark Lory Clemencio; PO2 Glen Bedua; PO1 Joseph Sagonoy; PO 3 John Lloyd Sumbilla;; PO2 Rodel Eva Ramacula; and PO2 Noel Balaca Jr.
