Burial aid, pension set aside for families of slain SAF cops

THE families of the slain 44 Special Action Force (SAF) police commandos will each receive P20,000 in funeral assistance and pension from the Employees Compensation Commission (ECC).
Jonathan Villasoto, deputy regional director of the ECC said all of the families of the SAF men that were killed in the January 25 clash with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and private armed groups received benefits under Executive Order No. 167.
The order that was approved on May 26 last year also entitles police officers and military personnel to each receive 10 percent increase in pension if they died in the line of duty.
“Their beneficiaries may file an EC claim at any GSIS branch nearest to their places of work or residences,” said Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz in a press statement.
Inquiry
Villasoto said the legitimate dependents will be receiving P200 per day as pension.
“There is already coordination with GSIS headquarters that they will give a list of the dependents of the SAF for follow-up processing,” she said.
Meanwhile, two forensic anthropologists specializing in human rights cases called on the national government to include a Muslim representative in the inquiry on the Mamasapano clash.
In a letter entitled “Notes and Queries on the Killing of Marwan and the Massacre of the Fallen 44,” dated last February 6, a copy of which was received by Cebu Daily News, anthropologists Jerome Bailen and Benito Molino said there should be equal representation between Christian and Muslim experts in the joint independent inquiry into the case.
“An independently fair and balanced inquiry should be conducted by a body composed not only of appointees from the Christian-dominated government but also of investigators recommended from the Muslim side whose integrity, competence and credibility are vouched for by the Muslim community, otherwise, the result of the investigation will be perceived to reflect and echo mainly, the sentiments and concerns of one side of this controversy,” the letter said./Correspondents Melissa Q. Cabahug and Apple Mae Ta-as