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DOMINADOR Nacionales, PO2 Nacionales' father, thanks all who attended the ceremony.
Alaric A. Yanos
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By Mizpah
Grace G. Castro and Jennifer T. Pambid
PGIN-CMO
The
Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN)
through the Sangguniang Panlalawigan hailed Mamasapano clash commando PO3 Omar
A. Nacionales as a “courageous son of the North” for demonstrating Ilocano
resilience and heroism during "Oplan Exodus" of the Philippine
National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF).
Beginning as an operation to
neutralize international terrorist Zulkifli Abdhir alias Marwan, and Abdul
Basit Usman, members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and the
Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) stationed at Brgy. Tukanalipao in
Mamasapano, Maguindanao clashed with SAF operatives resulting in the deaths 44
SAF members, 18 MILF fighters and seven civilians on January 25 last year, the
biggest loss of government elite forces in Philippine history.
PO3 Nacionales was a native of
Marcos, and left behind widow and fellow SAF member PO2 Gae Ann Guiniling of La
Union Province. He was a member of the PNP class 2008 and awarded the Medalya
ng Kadakilaan on September 16, 2014, for a mission against the Moro
National Liberation Front (MNLF) in Zamboanga City.
All PNP-SAF members who joined
"Oplan Exodus," including PO3 Nacionales, were honored at the
Provincial Capitol Grounds today through a commemorative mass, 21-gun salute,
and wreath-laying ceremony with Laoag City Hall and Provincial Capitol
officials and employees attending.
The rest of the municipalities and
city of Ilocos Norte were also enjoined to share their respects and honor the
victims by flying the National Colors at half-mast.
Ilocos Norte Governor Maria Imelda “Imee”
R. Marcos in her message during the ceremony said, "This came as a tragedy
for the Ilocano Nation, for truly napakarami sa 44 ‘yung mass
recruitment ng Northern Luzon. Napakarami nang
Kailukoan… We are here to do as Ilocanos have throughout the centuries:
honoring our dead; venerating heroes and those who have laid down their lives
to keep this country and this province safe and secure."
PGIN
to extend additional support to kin of Ilocano SAF 44 member
MEANWHILE, Ms. Marcos said that the provincial
government has already granted full scholarship to Mr. Nacionales’ sister,
Aleta, who is currently a second-year college student of a business-related
course.
Mr. Nacionales’ older brother,
Hadji, has also been assisted to work at the Department of Public Works and
Highways–Ilocos Norte. Finishing only three years of Civil Engineering, Ms. Marcos
hopes to extend assistance until he graduates with a complete degree.
The family recalled that after
entering the service, Omar served as their breadwinner and vowed to support the
education of his siblings.
Ms. Marcos also hopes that the
support given will ease their burden of losing their breadwinner and serve as a
way of fulfilling Omar’s dreams for his family.
She added that “the local government
unit of Marcos, [where the family hails from] is also working out some land and
now some [livelihood assistance].”
While his father, Dominador, said
they have yet to receive housing and livelihood assistance from the national
government, he thanked Ms. Marcos for her immediate and continuous support to
them.
“I’ve been hearing that they [national
government] have already fulfilled their obligations to the slain SAF troopers
but we are still waiting. However, we thank Governor Marcos for empathizing
with us and for her relentless support to our family,” he said in Ilocano.
Ms. Marcos expressed her admiration
to the Nacionales family for becoming an inspiration through their strength and
humility.
“Hindi lamang si Omar Nacionales
ang banuar ti amianan, kundi pati ang pamilya niya. Alam naman natin kung gaano
kahirap ang buhay at talagang very
humble talaga ang kanila kubo, ang kanilang [pagsasaka]—napakahirap
talaga ng buhay nila, subalit walang hiningi kundi pag-aaral at
kabuhayan. May this be an inspiration to the rest of us.”
She added that PGIN will continue
extending assistance to the family as a way of expressing gratitude to Mr. Nacionales’
gallantry.
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