Joy Adalia
Several local celebrities have taken to social media to offer their tribute to the fallen Special Action Forces (SAF) heroes, yet many could not help but express their anger over President Benigno Aquino’s apparent snub of the arrival honors by attending a car plant inauguration instead.
See – PNoy Skips Welcome Honors for Slain SAF Troopers, Attends Car Plant Inauguration
Judy Ann “ Juday” Santos is among those who criticized the president. The actress and TV show host shared a photo on her official Instagram page of a 2011 report stating how US President Barrack Obama cancelled his schedule so he could meet the returned bodies of fallen troops. Juday captioned this with, “Just saying… Obama knows his priorities…”
The post earned several bashers yet many of Juday’s supporters readily sided with the actress.
See – Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo defends post sideswiping PNoy’s absence
Bob Ong also posts a similar photo.
Other celebrities expressed anger as well…
Others were not as subtle in expressing their opinion. For example, known for speaking his mind using colorful language, DJ Mo Twister did not spare the president in his Instagram post as he pointed out how the president chose the car plant inauguration over the arrival ceremony.
The president’s ex-girlfriend, Grace Lee, also openly bashed him by posting a tweet made by pro-Aquino Black and White Movement’s Leah Navarro and providing a scathing caption.
See – PNoy’s Ex-Girlfriend reacts to Leah Navarro’s Twitter post
Many refused to focus on the president’s actions; instead, they honored the fallen heroes.
Photo credit: PEP
Kris TV Family just came from Manaoag & had a Mass celebrated by my friend Fr. Jerry Manlangit. I went to pray my thanksgiving because it has been my practice to go before my birthday to thank God for the year that was & the year ahead.
We all fervently prayed a special intention for our country & God’s healing & Mama Mary’s comforting embrace of the loved ones, families, co-workers & friends left behind by the 44 fallen SAF officers.
Nakikiramay po kami sa lahat ng nawalan ng mahal sa buhay. #PrayforthesoulsofourHEROES
I mourn with the Filipino People for the fall of our SAF personnel.
There is no pain as excruciating as what the loved ones of our fallen Special Action Forces (SAF) in Maguindanao are now experiencing, especially when the new year just ushered in – a time when we all try to be doubly hopeful that things will be better in the days to come.
What could have been a successful campaign against one of Southeast Asia’s most dreaded terrorists, Malaysian national Zulkifli Bin Hir, ended up as a botched military operation that terminated the lives of forty-four SAF members of the Philippine NationalPolice, two of them our Muslim brothers themselves.
Indeed, these SAF personnel rightfully deserve to be called heroes…but only TRUTH and JUSTICE can provide eternal peace to their souls and heal the wounds inflicted upon us, especially to their families.
As a reservist of the Philippine Marine Corps, I throw my firm salute to our fallen comrades in uniform, just as we mourn today for all these loss in the town of Mamasapano.
Let peace reign even when we are all in pain. -Dong Dantes
Some local politicians also expressed their own opinions on the incident; though most chose not to react with PNoy’s actions as well.
jusko.. yang jim paredes at bianca gonzales mga nabrainwash! hahaha