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The answer may depend on President Noynoy Aquino.
“When asked of the 42 commandos of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Special Action Force (SAF) could be buried at Libingan ng mga Bayani, newly designated PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo Jr.said that since the Libingan ng mga Bayani is managed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), policemen have already somehow accepted that they are not supposed to be there,” reports Aaron B. Recuenco in Manila Bulletin.
The bodies of 42 of the 44 slain police commandos were flown to Manila yesterday. Two of the PNP=SAF cops were already buried in Zamboanga, as dictated by Muslim rites.
For his part, Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, chief military information officer, said he does not know of a policemen buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani except those who used to serve in the defunct Philippine Constabulary. However, Cabunoc said, “But as far as I know, the President has a say on that.”
Cabunoc is right.
The report noted: “Under AFP Regulation G 161-373 or ‘The Allocation of Cemetery Plots at the LNMB’ Regulation issued on April 9, 1986, those allowed to be buried there are Medal of Valor Awardees; Presidents of the Philippines as the Commanders-in-Chief of the AFP; Secretaries of National Defense; Chiefs-of-Staff of the AFP; General/Flag Officers of the AFP; Active and retired military personnel of the AFP; former AFP members who laterally entered and joined the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG); veterans of the Philippine Revolution of 1896, the First and Second World War, as well as recognized guerrillas; government dignitaries, statesman, and National Artists, and widows of former Presidents.”
The report then explained that “‘other deceased persons’ can be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani if their burial is approved by the commander-in-chief, Congress, or the Defense secretary.”
Photo: Gerg Anrol Cahiles, 9News (Twitter)
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