160-man elite police unit deployed to Lanao Sur for peacekeeping

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 16, 2024): 160-man elite police unit deployed to Lanao Sur for peacekeeping (By Edwin Fernandez)

PEACEKEEPERS. Four companies of the police’s Special Action Force have been deployed to Lanao del Sur to help maintain security. Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza, Bangsamoro police regional director (inset), leads the send-off ceremonies on Monday (Jan. 15, 2024) for the units that are assigned to Marawi City and the towns of Malabang, Masiu, and Marantao. (Photo courtesy of PRO-BARMM)

PARANG, Maguindanao del Norte – The Police Regional Office in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PRO-BARMM) has deployed four companies of the Special Action Force (SAF) to help maintain law and order in Lanao del Sur.

Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza, BARMM police director, led the send-off ceremony for the 160 SAF troopers at Camp Brigadier General Salipada K. Pendatun here on Monday.

“There are gaps in terms of security in Lanao del Sur that is why we need to fill in,” Nobleza said in a statement issued Tuesday.

Nobleza said the SAF troopers, consisting of the 41st, 43rd, 44th, and 45th Special Action Companies, will be sent to the towns of Malabang, Masiu, Marantao, and Marawi City.

“With the presence of SAF, the security in Lanao del Sur will improve. When the security improves, there will be economic activities and the community will also improve,” he said.

Nobleza expressed confidence that threat groups operating in Lanao del Sur would "realize life is better when peace and security situations are stable and that life is productive and meaningful if they abandon violent extremism."

Moreover, he also expressed hope that the Dec. 3, 2023 bombing of the Mindanao State University (MSU) - Marawi gym that claimed four lives and hurt over 50 others "would never happen again."

The 45th SAF Company will be stationed inside MSU.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1216993