Palace: SAF 44 families get gov’t benefits

FALLEN HEROES: The 44 members of PNP Special Action Forces killed in Mamasapano, Maguindanao (Facebook photo)

MANILA – Malacanang on Wednesday said the government has given extensive assistance to the families of the 44 policemen who were killed in action in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in January last year.

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. noted these include livelihood, employment, educational, medical, housing, skills training and other benefits.

Coloma said all concerned government agencies had acted on requests received from the families of the members of the PNP Special Action Forces (SAF) as directed by President Benigno S. Aquino III.

“All requests for housing assistance as well as for livelihood and related assistance have been fully complied with and implemented,” he added.

The Palace official also downplayed published reports that families of the late Police Sr. Inspector Joey Gamutan and Police Officer 1 Oliebeth Viernes have not received all the mandatory benefits.

Coloma said the Gamutan family received a total of Php 2.6 million, while Viernes family got a total of Php 1.3 million.

He said these benefits include Philippine National Police (PNP) Special Financial Assistance, commutation of accumulated leave credits, PNP monthly and back-earned pensions, National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) monthly and back-earned pensions, NAPOLCOM burial and gratuity assistance, Public Safety Mutual Benefit Fund, Inc. and the financial assistance from the President’s Social Fund amounting to Php 250,000 per family.