BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – One of the two policemen killed Thursday morning by two grenade explosions in Abra province had survived a bloody, all-day encounter way down south, in Mamasapano, on exactly the same day three years earlier.
The group PNP/AFP Supporters-Justice for Saf44, which had been formed to press for justice for the fallen police Special Action Force members killed in Mamasapano, paid tribute on its social media page to one of the two cops killed in Abra, PO3 Carlos Bacalli Bocaig.
Bocaig together with PO2 Frenzel Buned Kitoyan of the Abra Police Mobile Force of the Abra Provincial Police Office died when an unidentified suspect hurled two hand grenades during a fireworks display at La Paz, Abra at 1:30a.m. of Wednesday January 25, 2018.
Twelve civilians, including Congressman Joseph Sto. Niño B. Bernos and his wife, La Paz Mayor Menchie B. Bernos, were wounded.
The cops were detailed to guard the venue of the program as part of the celebration of the town’s fiesta.
According to the post of the Saf44 group, Bocaig was part of the 84th Seaborne of the Special Action Force who raided the house where Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir, alias “Marwan”, had stayed in Barangay Tukanalipao, Mamasapano town in Maguindanao, on Jan. 25, 2015. The SAF operatives, after carrying out their mission, met elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Bangsamoro Islamic Liberation Front and other private armed groups. The fierce encounter between the outnumbered SAF and the armed groups ended 12 hours later with 44 SAF personnel, 18 MILF fighters and six civilians killed.
Of the 44 SAF killed in action in Mamasapano, 13 are Cordillerans. Bocaig survived Mamasapano, only to fall prey to the grenade thrower on the same day three years later.
The relatives, colleagues and friends of the SAF 44 are still demanding justice, as most of them see some loopholes in the operation, which has led to indictments against former President Benigno Aquino III, former PNP chief General Alan Purisima and former SAF chief Getulio Napeñas before the Ombudsman.
In a press conference livestreamed by the Abra Province Facebook page Thursday afternoon, Abra Governor Jocelyn Bernos assured her constituents that “Abra is still secure through our Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police.”
She and a representative from the Department of Education emphasized that the 2018 Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) games, which the province is hosting from February 4 to 9, will push through.
Governor Bernos added that the CARAA event has been in planning since October last year, and that a security plan is in place.
She vowed that her provincemates and guests will be safe during the event, and looked forward to a “successful and peaceful” run.
A gun ban is anticipated to be declared starting on February 1.
She noted that she had talked to Congressman Bernos earlier, who told her that he and his wife Mayor Bernos are alright.
They are just resting after being discharged from hospital, where they were treated for minor injuries.
“Okay naman sila (They’re okay),” Governor Bernos said, like most of the victims who were released within a few hours after receiving treatment. Only three persons are still at the hospital for observation and additional treatment.
Even as she extended her “deepest sympathy” to the families of the slain policemen, she promised that the provincial government will provide financial and other forms of assistance to them. She also vowed to “give them justice.
She and police and military officials asked local residents to provide them with any information they have regarding the incident. Asked if there will be a reward, Governor Bernos said there will be for those who reach out to them with validated information.
Police are on the lookout for persons acting suspiciously and checkpoints are in place, even as investigation is ongoing.
They are not yet sure whether the congressman and mayor were the targets, as they are still determining the motives and suspects.
On the possibility that the incident is linked to Communist rebels, an army official said Abra is generally secure, and that the “Communist terrorists” are in the hinterlands.
“So ‘yung iko-connect natin yung presence ng armed group dito sa Bangued (municipality) is negative (So for us to connect the presence of an armed group here in Bangued is negative),” the army official said
Meanwhile, Governor Bernos said she hoped the incident had nothing to do with politics, or else they would be thrown back to the old image the public had of Abra.
“Let’s not get tired. We have started promoting our province or marketing our province at a different level,” she said, then went on to continue her speech in Ilocano. “Let’s sustain it and let’s not get affected…” (Additional reportage by Tricia Aquino)