LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Jan. 26 (PNA)–The flag at the Pangasinan Provincial Police Office (PPPO) here on Monday (January 26) is now in half mast, following the killing of about 50 members of the police’s special action force (SAF) in an encounter with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) early Sunday.
PPPO spokesperson Supt. Ferdinand De Asis said as a matter of fact, the national flags in the police units, from the national headquarters down to the provincial and city or municipal stations, are raised half mast every time a member of the Philippine National Police (PNP) dies while serving the country.
This time, the half mast gesture pertains to the death of SAF troopers who, during a law enforcement operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.
The half mast is effective on Jan. 26 until further notice, De Asis said.
Retired Police General and now Pangasinan second district representative Leopoldo Bataoil, in a press statement, condemned in the strongest terms possible the bloody encounter that killed many PNP SAF members.
“It’s very unfortunate that this would happen at the height of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) deliberations in Congress,” he said.
Meanwhile, Senator Allan Peter Cayetano, in his press statement relayed to thne media here disclosed that he was withdrawing his co-authorship of the BBL.
He said, “With the recent events involving the slaughter of our policemen in Mindanao, there is reason to doubt the commitment of the MILF for a framework of peace and development in Mindanao.”
He also expressed his doubts on the passage of the BBL peace agreement. (PNA)