The Quezon City People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB) has recognized the police official who led members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Special Action Force (SAF) during the Mamasapano Law Enforcement Operation in Maguindanao on Jan. 25, 2015, that resulted in the death of a known international terrorist.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and PLEB Executive Officer lawyer Rafael Calinisan handed over the “Bayani ng Bayan” award to Lt. Col. Raymund Train, the ground commander of the SAF main assaulting unit during the said operation, for his courage and gallantry in risking his life above and beyond the call of duty.
The ceremony was held during the flag ceremony at the Quezon City Hall on Monday, Dec. 19, which was attended by city councilors, city department heads, and employees.
The operation of the SAF in Mamasapano, Maguindanao led to the death of Zulkifly Bin Hir alias “Marwan,” a bomb expert and international terrorist, who was tagged as wanted in four countries including the Philippines, the United States, Indonesia, and Malaysia, according to the city government.
Marwan had bounties on his head of US$ 5 million from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and P7.4 million from the Philippine government, it added.
Calinisan said that this is the first time that the PLEB will give recognition to a police officer.
“Siya ang pinuno ng SAF na nakipagtuos ng dikdikan kay Marwan. Isa siya sa labing-tatlo na pumasok sa lungga ni Marwan, mission accomplished, binggo. Imbis na piliin ang safety niya noong nagkakaputukan na, pinili niyang balikan ang mga taong naatasang ilabas at iextract siya . Pinili niya na manatili para depensahan ang mga kasamahan na halos maubos dahil sa kawalan ng reinforcements. He hid in anonymity afterwards, unrecognized for his heroism (He is the leader of the SAF who fought with Marwan. He was one of the thirteen who entered Marwan's hideout, mission accomplished, bingo. Instead of choosing his safety when the exchange of fire started, he chose to go back to the men who were assigned to take Marwan out and extract him. He chose to stay to defend his colleagues who were almost exhausted due to the lack of reinforcements. He hid in anonymity afterwards, unrecognized for his heroism,” he added.
Calinisan said that despite being wounded and faced with overwhelming odds, Train continued to fight, rally his troops, and kept his composure to lead and protect the morale of his men.
For his part, Train, a resident of Quezon City and currently assigned to the PNP Office of the Directorate for Intelligence, recalled the day when the hunt for Marwan was held in Mamasapano, which was also where the heroic sacrifice of the SAF 44 happened.
“For those who have forgotten, January 25, 2015, is a day of remembrance in our country. For the rest of the world it was like any other Sunday, people went to church, families gathered together, children playing around, but for the SAF 44 and those who survived, it was a day of living out a professional oath,” Train said.
“The hunt for the terrorist Marwan was a success, but I take it at the same time with a heavy heart. It had to be paid with the lives of 44 gallant men. They were my friends, comrades, brothers-in-arms and I saw how well they fought until the very end. And they did it willingly, because in the PNP SAF, this is how we tell the world who we are,” he added.
Train thanked Mayor Belmonte and the city government for the recognition. He said that he accepts the award with pride and gratitude to honor his brothers-in-arms who have given the ultimate sacrifice in exchange for lasting peace.
“Their dedication and gallantry represent the character of our nation which has a long story of patriotism and honor. Their legacy and heroism for the entire Filipino nation will remain forever in history,” he said.
The SAF is a reaction unit to augment regional, provincial, municipal, and city police force for civil disturbance control, internal security operations, hostage-taking rescue operations, search and rescue in times of natural calamities, disasters and national emergencies and other special police operations such as ant-hijacking, anti-terrorism, explosives and ordnance disposal (according to www.officialgazette.gov.ph).
The PLEB is the city’s balance mechanism against erring cops, the local government said. It has the power to hear and decide the citizen’s complaints formally filed, or referred to it, against any uniformed PNP member.