ABOUT PANGASINAN’S LATEST HEROES

SAN NICOLAS—The widow of one of two slain members of Special Action Forces (SAF) from Pangasinan who was among those killed in the bloody operation in Maguindanao Sunday wants justice for her husband.

Miya Mejia, wife of Police Officer 2 Ephraim Mejia of Barangay Caloocan this town, both aged 33, also wants whoever gave the green light for that fateful operation that left 44 SAF commandos dead and 14 others wounded accountable.

Miya said her dreams for her family were shattered by his sudden death.

“I want justice,” Miya said before she went to Villamor Air Base Thursday for the arrival of the bodies of the victims from Maguindanao.

Miya said she does not know what future holds for their daughter since she is jobless and had been fully dependent on her husband’s support for their family upkeep.

P/Sr. Supt. Biay presents the letter of condolences to Miya Mejia, wife of PO2 Ephraim Mejia, last Wednesday (28 january) in San Nicolas. (Photo courtesy of PPPO)

She said her husband dreamed of constructing a home of their own and their child to become a doctor first and possibly join the police service, too, like him.

Last phone call

Miya said Ephraim had called to her last Saturday at around 7:00 p.m., an hour before their trooped proceeded to their mission site.

“I couldn’t understand then why I was so nervous and restless at that time,” she said in Filipino. He ended their talk telling her he loves her and misses her and asked her to pray for him always.

On Sunday night, she received the call from the administrative department of her husband’s unit informing her about the tragedy. She said she felt her world crumbled.

Before that call, Miya said she received a call from someone, using her husband’s cellphone, asking her to send P5,000 for the medication of her wounded husband who is under their custody.  It did not dawn on her right away that the caller was one of those who killed her husband.

She pleaded the caller for consideration as she was penniless. The negotiation ended with a P550 pasaload for the caller. Then the call from SAF came.

Last Christmas with the family

Ephraim was home for the last time on December 21 last year and spent what was his last Christmas with his family.

He initially did not want to go home and opted to send instead his transportation expenses from Zamboanga to Pangasinan for family expenses but Miya managed to convince him that no amount of money could compensate the warmth of a hug and kisses he could give their child.

Ephraim was also part of the Zamboanga siege, an armed conflict between the forces of the Republic of the Philippines and a faction of the Moro National Liberation Front, in September 2013. He had been assigned to Zamboanga for six years.

Miya said her husband was so dedicated to his job and she had suggested on many occasions to resign because of the risks to his life but he repeatedly said he wanted to serve the country.

Another SAF member from Pangasinan, PO2 Romeo Senin from San Fabian town, who was also slain in the Maguindanao operation will be brought to Iligan City where he had resided after marrying his wife from that place.

At presstime, Mejia’s remains was scheduled to arrive in San Nicolas, Saturday, January 31. (Tita Roces)

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