QUEZON City, Philippines (February 2) – Last January 25, 2016, two members of the Philippine National Police – Special Action Force (SAF) 44 was awarded by President Benigno Aquino III with the Medal of Valor- the Philippine highest military honor. He also gave the PNP Distinguished Conduct Medal awards or Medalya ng Kabayanihan to the remaining members of the SAF 44.
It’s already been a year when 44 brave men died in the bloody clash in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. Their legacy will remain at the hearts of all Filipinos for they have shown heroism as they protected the nation and sacrificed their lives.
The two SAF members who received the award are Senior Insp. Gednat Tabdi and PO2 Romeo Cempron. President Aquino has approved the awarding of the Medal of Valor to Tabdi and Cempron in recognition of their extraordinary courage in battling guerrillas belonging to the Moro Islamic Libreation Front and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.
Being able to receive the Philippines’ highest military requires acts of valor above and beyond the call of duty. According to the site congress.gove.ph, under Presidential Decree No. 1687, to receive the Medal of Valor—or in the Philippine National Police official Nomenclature – “Medalya ng Kagitingan,”or the PNP Medal of Valor—one must prove, to wit: …conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life and limb above and beyond the call of duty. In order to justify this award, a member of the Philippine National Police must perform in action a deed of personal bravery and self-sacrifice above and beyond the call of duty so conspicuous as to distinguish himself clearly above his comrades in the performance of more than ordinary hazardous service. In case of actual combat with armed enemies, this award may be given only if the enemy force is so overwhelming as compared to the government troops. On the other hand, the PNP Bravery Medal is bestowed when the enemy is superior to the government troops during the actual combat by, at least, eight (8) but not more than twenty (20) combatants.
Senior Insp. Gednat Tabdi and PO2 Romeo Cempron truly deserved to receive this honor for they have proved these acts during their operation in Maguindano. According to the article written in philstar.com, Napolcom Vice Chairman and Executive Officer Eduardo Escueta said Tabdi was the team leader of Team 1 of the Main Effort 1, 84th Special Action Company when Oplan Exodus was carried out.
Tabdi also served as the navigator and point man of his team.
“Although wounded, weakened and dehydrated in the daylong firefights, he prepared and led his troops for the showdown against the overwhelming odds that marked his gallant stand as a SAF trooper,” the Napolcom also said.
“His leadership, courage and gallantry had inspired the troopers to hack it out with the overwhelming enemy to accomplish the mission,” it added.
Cempron, as lead gunner of the Main Effort 2, 55th Special Action Company, helped secure the teams tasked to arrest Marwan and Usman.
“While his team of 36 SAF commandos was being bombarded by the enemies in the cornfields of Sitio Tukanalipao, and without proper cover, Cempron bravely fought and made his last stand until he ran out of ammunition,” Napolcom also said.
Escueta said Cempron fought and stood his ground in the battlefield for five hours knowing fully well that the SAF was already outnumbered and with only a few team members surviving.
“At the last moment of his life, when escape could be possible, PO2 Cempron decided, instead, to help facilitate the escape of PO2 Christopher Lalan by using his body as a diversion for snipers so that the latter can run away from the enemies,” he added.
The Napolcom, Escueta said, acknowledges the need to honor the outstanding accomplishments of the SAF troopers.
Honoring the SAF 44 should not end with the giving of awards. We should always remember them as our heroes who have sacrificed their lives in order to protect the nation.
(written by Jasmin Monte, edited by Jay Paul Carlos, additional research by Lovely Ann Cruz)
