MANILA, Philippines — Hundreds of retired and active policemen walked with the widows and relatives of slain 44 Special Action Force troopers on Sunday morning to call for justice on elite cops brutally killed in a covert mission in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.
The sympathy walk organized by the Philippine National Police Academy Alumni Association Inc. continued despite the Quezon City local government’s revoking of their original permit to gather in QC memorial circle citing “security reasons.”
Around 6:40 a.m., about 500 PNPA alumni, active policemen, lateral entrants and non-uniformed personnel of the PNP along with the families of the SAF 44 started marching outside the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame.
Carrying Philippine flags, photos of the 44 fallen heroes and tarpaulins printed with messages of grief, participants marched on the northbound lane of Epifanio delos Santos Avenue as they head to Claret School where an ecumenical mass will be held.
As the participants walked from Crame, moving speakers blared the song “Ang Tatay Kong Pulis” and a song about a policeman to the tune of “Pusong Bato.”
Although anti-government groups were prevented to join the walk, representatives from Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Kilusang Mayo Uno and Bayan Muna staged a silent protest in front of the Philippine Heart Center where the marchers passed through.
Bearing papers and placards with words “Resign,” “Liar!” the militants called for President Benigno Aquino III’s resignation as well as truth and accountability in the Mamasapano debacle.
Among the personalities who joined the march were Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco, former Tarlac governor and then Philippine Public Safety College president and running priest Fr. Robert Reyes.