More SAF troops to help in war vs NPA, terror

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 23): More SAF troops to help in war vs NPA, terror

Additional battalions for the Philippine National Police's (PNP) elite Special Action Force (SAF) will be tapped to enhance the fighting capability of the police force in its campaign against the New People's Army (NPA) and terrorists.

PNP Director General Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa made this remark when pressed on how he intends to utilize the additional five SAF battalions approved by the National Police Commission.

"SAF's mandate is more on counter-terrorism and internal security operations. Our problems right now is terrorism and the NPA and they will focus on that," he said in Filipino.

Dela Rosa said these additional SAF battalions, whose strength are placed at 500 officers and enlisted personnel, are aside from the five units which President Rodrigo Duterte has earlier ordered created.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1026254