Slain Saf Member Spo1 Inocencio Laid to Rest in Panabo City

Special Action Force (SAF) member SPO1 Lover Inocencio, one of the 44 elite unit policemen killed in the Mamasapano, Maguindanao encounter with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) last January 25, was laid to rest past 12 noon Wednesday at the Panabo Memorial Park.

More or less 500 people, including Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Panabo City Mayor James Gamao, other Panabo city officials, policemen led by Davao del Norte Provincial Director Samuel Gadingan, SAF members and Panabo City Hall employees, came to grieve and sympathize with the family of Inocencio.

Mayor Gamao expressed his grief over the death of Inocencio, saying, "The Panabo people will always remember SPO1 Inocencio as their hero." He said he was surprised to hear that one of the 44 slain SAF troopers was from Panabo residing in Barangay San Vicente.

"We have lost a good defender," Gamao said, adding that Inocencio's fight till his death was an act of heroism.

For his part, Mayor Duterte expressed his sympathy to the family of the fallen SAF member.

In an interview, he said he will give financial assistance to Inocencio's family with the approval of the city council.

Before he left for Davao City, Duterte asked the fallen SAF member's wife, Leizl, to see him at City Hall anytime.

At the internment, the widow put up a brave front with tears rolling silently as she said final goodbyes to her husband with a relative carrying their fiveyearold son Justin.

Inocencio and his family were together last December 23, 2014 for Justin's birthday. The family went home to Trento, Agusan del Sur and spent quality time as Inocencio was on vacation for 15 days every three months.

Leizl said she knew an operation was forthcoming that her husband wished would be moved from December to January so he could spend more time with the family.

The widow, in her eulogy before the internment, said her husband's...