Four Cordilleran SAF commanders to be conferred 2nd highest medal of the PNP

Cordillera - Four Cordilleran commanders of the Special Action Force (SAF) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) will receive Medal of Heroism "Medalya ng Kabayanihan" for their bravery and heroism during the Marawi Siege in 2017. 

The Medal of Heroism is the second highest award that can be bestowed to a member of the Philippine National Police who have shown bravery and heroism in combat. 

Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Ano, who chaired the National Police Commission approved the conferment of the "distinguished conduct medal" to Police Col. Rex Arvin Malimban,  the overall SAF Combat group commander and four other Cordilleran police officers. 

The four Cordilleran commanders who will also receive the medal are Lt/Cols. Lambert Suerte,  Lt/Cols. Ledon Monte, Lt/Cols. Jack Echman Angog and Lt/Cols. Mario Mayames, Jr. 

Both Suerte and Monte are from Benguet province, Mayames is from Mountain Province and Angog is from Kalinga. All of them are alumni of the Philippine National Police Academy.

Current PNP Director Oscar Albayalde has recommended the conferment of the five SAF commanders through the Special Promotions, Awards and Decorations Board. 

The conferment of medal to the five officers is to honor the gallantry and heroism they demonstrated in leading the SAF commandos against armed group in Marawi.

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Heroes' Lounge for cops and soldiers now open in 24 airports nationwide

Cordillera - Traveling soldiers and Police personnel can now use a comfortable lounge in 24 different airports nationwide.

This is after the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has put up Heroes' Lounge in various airports across the country as a gesture to the heroism of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.

According to the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the construction of the said lounge is to honor the heroism of the soldiers and the Police.

"The initiative was launched to show appreciation and gratitude to the country's military men and police officers for their sacrifices towards peace and in the defending and securing the nation from harm," the Department of Transportation said in a statement.

The Heroes' Lounge will accommodate traveling uniformed personnel, including those retired, Medal of Valor awardees, and their immediate families traveling with them.

The Lounge is furnished with comfortable seats and relaxing interiors and free WIFI connection.

Below is the list of the 24 airports that offers Heroes Lounge:

Puerto Princesa International Airport

General Santos International Airport

Zamboanga International Airport

Davao International Airport

Kalibo International Airport

Laoag International Airport

Iloilo International Airport

Butuan Airport

Laguindingan Airport

Bacolod-Silay Airport

Cotabato Airport

Tacloban Airport

Dipolog Airport

Dumaguete Airport

Legazpi Airport

Naga Airport

Pagadian Airport

Roxas Airport

San Jose Airport

Bohol-Panglao International Airport

Tuguegarao Airport

Virac Airport

Cauayan Airport

Ozamiz Airport 

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January 25, 2019: Remembering the bravest commandos of our land: SAF 44

Cordillera - Every January 25th of the year, we remember the gallantry of the 44 fallen members of the Special Action Forces (SAF 44), 14 of whom are Cordillerans who bravely went to Mindanao and fought members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters four years ago. 

This is the day that we are all reminded of the gallantry of the 44 young men who showed courage in the line of fire. 

On January 25, 2015, members of the Special Action Force (SAF) were tasked in a police operation codenamed Oplan Exodus intended to capture or kill wanted Malaysian terrorist and other wanted persons of the BIFF. The operation lead to the death of forty-four members of the SAF including numerous people from MILF and BIFF. 

Retired police Director Benjamin Magalong said the death of the troopers did not go in vain, as their passing is a vindication for the neutralization of the most wanted person - "Marwan" and Usman.

The 14 SAF commandos from Cordillera:

PO2 Peterson Carap of Kabayan, Benguet, 

PO1 Gringo Cayang-o of Sadanga, Mountain Province,

PO2 Joel Bumidang Dulnuan of Nueva Viscaya

PO1 Angel Kodiamat of Bontoc, Mountain Province, 

PO2 Jerry Kayob of La Trinidad, Benguet, 

PO2 Nobel Kiangan of Mankayan, Benguet, 

PO3 Noel Golocan of Mankayan, Benguet and Sagada, Mountain Province, 

PO2 Walner Danao of Irisan, Baguio City, 

PSI Gednat Tabdi of La Trinidad, Benguet, 

PSI Cyrus Anniban of Balbalan, Kalinga, 

PO3 Robert Allaga of Banaue, Ifugao, 

PO2 Franklin Danao of Tinoc, Ifugao, 

PO2 Nicky De Castro Nacino Jr. of Baguio City and Aurora Province, 

PO1 Russel Bilog of Tabuk City, Kalinga and Sagada, Mountain Province 

The Office of the Presidential Spokeperson posted today in the official FB page National Day of Remembrance to the 44 SAF members.

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