The Philippine National Police (PNP) Special Action Force (SAF) Troopers and survivors was finally recognized by the national government a year after the botched Mamasapano operations in Maguindanao which cost the lives of our heroes. The honors was given personally and by no less than the President of the Philippines, Pres. Benigno Aquino III.
Pres. Aquino handed the awards to the families of the SAF 44 in a ceremony held at the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame on Monday morning, January 25, 2016.
Two members of the PNP SAF were posthumously awarded with the Medal of Valor, considered as the highest medal the PNP confers to a police officer for his bravery. Those who received the medal of valor were PO2 Romeo Cempron and Chief Inspector Gednat Tabdi.
Receiving the medal of valor awards were Christine Cempron and Leah Mefranum-Tabdi with son Gael accepted the award for Cempron and Tabdi, respectively.
Aside from the two members of the PNP SAF who received the highest honors conferred by the PNP, the remaining 42 members of the SAF were awarded with the Distinguished Conduct Medal or the Medalya ng Kabayanihan, the second highest PNP award.
The lone survivor of the back up team, Supt. Raymund Train will also received the Distinguished Conduct Medal in a private ceremony to be led by Pres. Aquino. The PNP also announced that the other officers who survived the deadly clash in Mamasapano will receive the Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting.