PMAyers call PD Biay: “Military” rites to 2 dead commandos

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

Just like what the U.S military have been doing to their fallen comrades, members of the Philippine Military Academy in the Philippine National Police call Police Provincial Director of Pangasinan to hold a hero's welcome and a dignified police burial rite to two members of the elite members of the Special Action Force who died last January 25 in Maguindanao province.

The 44 caskets of the Philippines' commandos who perished in an encounter
with Muslim rebels in Mindanao are carried by pall bearers.

Senior Superintendent Eric Noble, chief comptroller at the police regional office in San Fernando City, La Union, said just like what former Pangasinan Police Provincial Director (PPD) Senior Supt. Marlou Chan had done to the remains of SAF’s PO2 Christopher Hernaez  in San Quintin, Pangasinan, he wishes Senior Supt. Rey Biay, Pangasinan PPD, to emulate just like what the Americans have been honoring their heroes who died in combat.

Hernandez perished in September, 2012 fighting the Moro National Liberation Front in Zamboanga City.
(You can accessed that story at http://wwwmortzcortigoza.blogspot.com/2013/09/psinan-witness-safs-heros-burial.html )

Noble also said Police Regional Office's Region 1 Director Chief Supt. Roman Felix, a SAF and a pilot, intimated to him the two dead commandos should be given a police welcome and funeral.

Felix, Chan, Biay, and Noble are all graduates of the Philippine Military Academy.

A military or police entombment may feature guards of honour, the firing of volley shots as a salute, drumming, hallowed tune taps, and other military elements, with a flag draping over the coffin.

“Town halls in the municipalities of the duo should have their flag hoisted in half mast. Provincial and municipal officials should attend the rites so we can show our respect to the protectors of our freedom and way of life,” Noble, a police national awardee, said.

According to Biay the two Pangasinenses who were part of the 44 SAF men who engaged in an 11 hours running gun battle with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Bangsa Moro Islamic Fighters at the town of Mamasapano in Maguindanao were Police Officer 2 Ephraim Mejia of Brgy.Caloocan in San Nicolas town and PO2 Romeo Senin of Brgy. Lekep, San Fabian.

Mejia and Senin have the non-officer's military equivalent rank of Private First Class.

Meanwhile, in order to transform the residents of the city into an orderly and peaceful entity, the chief of police of San Carlos City has concluded a meeting with villages’ folks on how to avoid illegal drugs and criminality.

According to Supt. Charles Umayam he and his station quad staff conducted an “Ugnayan sa Barangay (USB) at Brgy. Calombayan last January 29.

“It is with emphasis on drug abuse prevention and control as based on Republic Act (Dangerous Drugs of 2002) 9165 and RA 9262 (

Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children ) and crime prevention awareness as one of the tools in transforming the community towards an orderly and peaceful society in line with Mayor Julier Resuello’s vision on San Carlos Maayos,” Umayam said in a short messaging system (SMS) to this paper.

He said the USB has been replicated in other villages of the 87 barangays’ city.

“It is bringing the police force into the heart of the community aimed to develop rapport to combat criminality”.