FACT CHECK: Memorials for SAF 44 exist, contrary to claim

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Various memorials for the 44 Special Action Force commandos, who perished in the 2015 Mamasapano clash, can be found in several locations

Claim: There are no museums dedicated to the 44 members of the Special Action Forces (SAF), collectively known as the SAF 44, who perished in the Mamasapano clash that took place on January 25, 2015. 

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The claim can be found in a December 12 post on the Facebook page “Cent SB.” The post says: “SAF 44 walang museum, pero yung mga adik, rapist at criminal meron? Lol.“

(SAF 44 has no museum, but the addicts, rapists, and criminals have one? Lol.)

As of writing, the post has around 19,000 reactions, 1,800 comments, and 5,900 shares. 

The facts: Contrary to the claim, there are memorials dedicated to the SAF 44 in several locations, such as the following:

• The Special Action Force Museum, SAF 44 Memorial and Black Beret Monument located in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig. This is a direct example of why the claim by “Cent SB” is false, as it includes a museum.
• The SAF 44 Forest Park located in the National Police College campus in Camp Gen Mariano N. Castañeda, Silang, Cavite
• The SAF 44 memorial located in Ifugao Park, The Manor, Camp John Hay, Baguio City 
• The monument in Lepanto National High School located in Mankayan, Benguet, which honors three of its graduates who were among the SAF 44.

The memorials honor the SAF troopers killed in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, in 2015. The incident began as a mission by the SAF to capture high-value bomb makers in a police operation dubbed Oplan Exodus, but later turned into an intense gunfight between the SAF and armed groups. (READ: TIMELINE: Mamasapano clash)

Museum reference in the claim: While the post by “Cent SB” does not state what museum it was referring to that supposedly honored “adik, rapist at criminal” (addicts, rapists, and criminals), the post is likely referring to the Lakbay Museo ng Paghilom, described as a museum dedicated to the stories of victims of extrajudicial killings during former president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs. 

The House of Representatives hosted the official launch of the mobile museum on December 9. Open to the public until December 11, the museum contains printed information on the war on drugs and stories of its victims, as well as a reproduction of the painting “Paghilom” and a shirt of a three-year-old war on drugs victim. During the launch, Akbayan Representative Chel Diokno and Tingog Representative Jude Acidre were among the attendees.  

Agents of disinformation have often referred to those killed in the Duterte administration’s drug war as criminals or addicts who would go on to become criminals if they weren’t killed. (READ: [OPINION] Killing drug addicts: Based on poor evidence and flawed reasoning)

Previous related fact-checks: Rappler has fact-checked numerous claims over the years about the Duterte administration’s drug war. 

At present, Duterte is detained at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, facing charges of three counts of murder as a crime against humanity.

Rappler has also published several fact-checks of false claims regarding the ICC, especially those about the case against Duterte. – Percival Bueser/Rappler.com

Percival Bueser is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.

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