Wonder Woman: The story of a female SAF commando

Catch SPO1 Junates Acacio on the street in civilian attire and you may not even recognize her. But you should stop and shake her hand.

Acacio is part of the police’s 5th Special Action Force (SAF) Battalion, and was sent to no less than Marawi City. The Ilocana was the sole female member of the Joint Task Force Vector assault team during the siege, and it was her first ever combat mission.

She recounts her memories of the battle, of the “slippery enemy” they pursued for five months, and of the constant danger government troops faced.

“We were the assaulters, clearing the structures [of enemy fighters] and we were always careful because there were structures rigged with improvised explosive devices (IEDs),” she said.

Julie Alipala wrote about the most crucial moment Acacio and her team got caught in. It was the 24th of July, 13 days after deployment into the main battle area:

“The female commando and her team found themselves pinned down inside a building by intense enemy fire.

The team grimly fought on and managed to extricate themselves from the area, killing and wounding several Maute group fighters as they finally broke out.”

Acacio thought that was it.

“Trapped in a building for more than three hours with seriously wounded colleagues, I thought that was our last (stand),” said the commando.

“I know God is always guiding us. I still believe that if it’s your time, even if you hide, you will die,” she added.

Alipala noted that being a woman never held Acacio back, “even if she was weighed down by about 60 kilograms of fighting gear, armor and ammunition each time her team conducted an assault.”

“The Marawi siege was an eye-opener, she said, because they had to engage the determined militants in close-quarter battles, something new to government forces who were trained to fight in the jungles.”

Acacio was part of the rapid deployment team that helped clear the battlezone. Chief Insp. Christopher Mendoza, the deputy commander of 5th SAF Battalion had the highest praises for her.

“She is the only female assaulter in our group (government forces) before the Marines and the Rangers sent women into the battle zone,” said Mendoza, also commending her sharpshooting. “She is a living testament that women can also do what men can.”

“She’s really one of the boys. Her being a woman did not matter in the battle area,” added Supt. Ledon Damoslog Monte, 5th SAF Battalion Commander.

Acacio did not reveal her recorded kills in Marawi.

via Inquirer / Julie Alipala