Hailing from Tondo, Manila City, Metro Manila, Philippines, Mariano Perez Flormata Jr. is not only a beauty king professionally known as Neil Perez. He is also a police officer with a personal connection with the Special Action Force (SAF) commandos who were killed in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, Philippines three weeks before his Mister International 2014 victory.
On September 7, 2014, Perez represented Tondo at Misters of the Philippines 2014 at the Grand Theater of University of Makati in Makati City, Metro Manila where he and 25 other candidates competed for four titles. He ranked first and was crowned Mister International Philippines 2014.
On February 14, 2015, Perez won the ninth edition of Mister International in Seoul, South Korea. On November 30, 2015, he crowned his successor Mister International 2015 Pedro Mendes of Switzerland at the Newport Arts Theater in Pasay City, Metro Manila.
Mister International 2014
The Mister International 2014 coronation ceremony was held at the Grand Ballroom of Grand Hilton Seoul in Seoul. These were the winner, the runners-up, the finalists and the semifinalists:
| PLACEMENT | CANDIDATE |
| Mister International 2014 | Neil Perez (Philippines) |
| 1st runner-up | Rabih El Zein (Lebanon) |
| 2nd runner-up | Tomáš Dumbrovský (Czech Republic) |
| 3rd runner-up | Rafał Maślak (Poland) |
| 4th runner-up | Mitja Nadizar (Slovenia) |
| Top 10 | Matheus Martins (Brazil) Masakazu Hashimoto (Japan) Park Young-ho (South Korea) Alejandro Valencia (Mexico) Vittawat Srikes (Thailand) |
| Top 15 | David Angel (Colombia) Richard Johnson (Guam) Kevin Hendrawan (Indonesia) Aung Chan Mya (Myanmar) Christian Ortiz (Puerto Rico) |
Two days before the coronation night, Mister International held its preliminaries, which showcased the candidates in their national costumes, formal wear and swim wear.
Five special awards were given. The winners were:
- Mister Photogenic: Masakazu Hashimoto (Japan)
- Mister Congeniality: David Angel (Colombia)
- Best National Costume: Shi Yu Quan (China)
- Most Stylish: Park Youngho (South Korea)
- People’s Choice: Rafał Maślak (Poland)
SAF 44
Perez is a bomb and explosives technician with the Philippine National Police Aviations Security Group. He dedicated his Mister International 2014 participation to the 44 SAF commandos who were killed in Tukanalipao, Mamasapano on January 25, 2015.
According to Perez, seven of the fallen policemen were his batch mates in the police academy. Here is the list of the 44 SAF commandos:
- Police Senior Inspector Ryan Ballesteros Pabalinas (General Santos City)
- Police Senior Inspector John Garry Alcantara Erana (Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur)
- Police Senior Inspector Max Jim Ramirez Tria (Virac, Catanduanes)
- Police Senior Inspector Cyrus Paleyan Anniban (Tabuk, Kalinga)
- Police Senior Inspector Gednat G. Tabdi (La Trinidad, Benguet)
- Police Senior Inspector Joey Sacristan Gamutan (Isabela City, Basilan)
- Police Senior Inspector Rennie Lumasag Tayrus (Zamboanga City)
- Senior Police Officer 1 Lover L. Inocencio (Panabo, Davao del Norte)
- Police Officer 3 Victoriano Nacion Acain Jr. (Gutalac, Zamboanga del Norte)
- Police Officer 3 Rodrigo F. Acob Jr. (Sampaloc, Manila)
- Police Officer 3 Robert Dommolog Allaga (Banaue, Ifugao)
- Police Officer 3 Jed-In Abubakar Asjali (Zamboanga City)
- Police Officer 3 Andres Viernes Duque Jr. (Aurora, Isabela)
- Police Officer 3 Noel Onangey Golocan (Mankayan, Benguet)
- Police Officer 3 Junrel Narvas Kibete (San Jose del Monte, Bulacan)
- Police Officer 3 John Lloyd Rebammonte Sumbila (Sulat, Eastern Samar)
- Police Officer 3 Virgel S. Villanueva (Zamboanga City)
- Police Officer 2 Chum Gog-Ong Agabon (Iligan)
- Police Officer 2 Glenn Berecio Bedua (Dulag, Leyte)
- Police Officer 2 Noel Nebrida Balaca (Taguig)
- Police Officer 2 Richelle Salangan Baluga (Piat, Cagayan)
- Police Officer 2 Godofredo Basak Cabanlet (Lanao del Norte)
- Police Officer 2 Peterson Indongsan Carap (Kabayan, Benguet)
- Police Officer 2 Roger C. Cordero (Isulan, Sultan Kudarat)
- Police Officer 2 Franklin Cadap Danao (Tinoc, Ifugao)
- Police Officer 2 Walner Faustino Danao (Dupax del Norte, Nueva Vizcaya)
- Police Officer 2 Joel Bimidang Dulnuan (Villaverde, Nueva Vizcaya)
- Police Officer 2 Amman Misuari Esmulla (Zamboanga City)
- Police Officer 2 Jerry Dallay Kayob (La Trinidad, Benguet)
- Police Officer 2 Noble Sungay Kiangan (Mankayan, Benguet)
- Police Officer 2 Ephraim G. Mejia (San Nicolas, Pangasinan)
- Police Officer 2 Nicky de Castro Nacino Jr. (San Luis, Aurora)
- Police Officer 2 Omar Agacer Nacionales (Marcos, Ilocos Norte)
- Police Officer 2 Rodel Eva Ramacula (Rosario, Northern Samar)
- Police Officer 2 Romeo Valles Senin II (Iligan City)
- Police Officer 1 Russel Bawaan Bilog (Tabuk, Kalinga)
- Police Officer 2 Windell Liano Candano (Dumanjug, Cebu)
- Police Officer 1 Loreto Guyab Capinding (San Mateo, Isabela)
- Police Officer 1 Gringo Charag Cayang-o (Sadanga, Mountain Province)
- Police Officer 1 Romeo Cumanoy Cempron (Consolacion, Cebu)
- Police Officer 1 Mark Lory Orloque Clemencio (Carigara, Leyte)
- Police Officer 1 Angel C. Kodiamat (Bontoc, Mountain Province)
- Police Officer 1 Joseph Gumatay Sagonoy (Silvino Lobos, Northern Samar)
- Policer Officer 1 Oliebeth Ligutan Viernes (Tuguegarao, Cagayan)
There were remaining 29 SAF survivors who were encircled by the enemies during the clash. The Armed Forces of the Philippines conducted a rescue operation to save the survivors.
As a result of the clash, Getulio Pascua Napeñas Jr. was relieved from his position as the SAF commander. He ran for senator in the 2016 Philippine general election on May 9, 2016 but did not receive one of the 12 seats.
On July 18, 2016, Napeñas turned 57. On July 26, 2016, Perez turned 31.
Leave a Reply