Sinas assures families of SAF 44 are getting benefits

January 26, 2021

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Debold Sinas assures that the benefits for the families of the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) members killed in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in 2015 are being given to them.

"It's continuing, after what happened we started helping them. The scholarship and housing were already provided. Now the PNP headquarters are monitoring to ensure that they continue to receive their benefits," Sinas said in an interview with reporters in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.

Sinas also expressed belief that ''maybe justice'' has been served for the members of the SAF 44.

"I believe for the SAF, we have already provided all the help and benefits and we let history decide on its effect and personally for me maybe justice is served already for them," he added.

However, a widow of one of the 44 SAF members killed during the bloody operation  in Maguindanao six years ago is still seeking for justice and urging for a reopening of the case.

"We hope that they will be given justice, that is our main concern as family members of the SAF 44," Roselle Nacino , widow of PO3 Nicky Nacino Jr. said.

"That is our call, we hope for the reopening of the case of SAF 44," she added.

Nacino also urged the PNP to assist them in a scholarship grant for their children.

"My main concern is it seems that not all the schools are aware of the RA 9049. Because other schools do not accept our children, it is difficult for us to enrol our children," she said in Tagalog.

We hope that the PNP will form an organization to assist on the scholarship grant to the dependents of the medal of valor awardee because it seems that our country is not aware on the benefits of RA 9049," she added. Robina Asido/DMS