JANUARY 30, 2015 IS NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING

Proclamation No. 953, s. 2015

Posted on January 28, 2015

MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

PROCLAMATION NO. 953

DECLARING 30 JANUARY 2015 AS A NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING

WHEREAS, on 25 January 2015, at least forty-four officers and personnel of the Philippine National Police’s Special Action Force were killed in the line of duty during an operation to serve a warrant of arrest against a suspected criminal in Maguindanao;

WHEREAS, these deaths are a great loss to our people and during this time of grief, a most solemn commemoration and respect is called for; and

WHEREAS, the nation is in solidarity with and joins in the grieving of the families and friends of our fallen brothers in the police force.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BENIGNO S. AQUINO III, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and law, do hereby proclaim 30 January 2015 as a day of national mourning, in solidarity with the bereaved families of the slain.

The entire nation is requested to offer prayers for the eternal repose of the souls of the victims and for our people to reclaim our sense of humanity.

Further, I instruct all public institutions and military installations in the Philippines to lower the Philippines flag to half-mast on 30 January 2015.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

DONE, in the City of Manila this 28^th day of January, in the Year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Fifteen.

(Sgd.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO III

By the President:

(Sgd.) PAQUITO N. OCHOA, JR.
Executive Secretary

 
        MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang declared Friday, January 30, a national day of mourning in honor of the 44 elite cops who died in clashes with Muslim rebels in Maguindanao.

       The declaration was announced by President Benigno Aquino III in his speech on Wednesday, as he signed Proclamation 953 on the same day.

       The proclamation states that this puts the nation "in solidarity with and joins in the grieving of the families and friends of our fallen brothers in the police force."

      It instructs "all public institutions and military installations in the Philippines to lower the Philippine flag to half-mast" on this day.

     Based on the information provided in gov.ph, this is the 42nd time in the country's history that a national day of mourning has been declared.


SOURCE:  Rappler.com
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