Police commandos will be undergoing various urban counter-terrorism trainings as part of the lessons learned during the Marawi City siege last year.
A PNP Special Action Force troop stand in attention while waitng for the arrival of PNP chief Dir. Gen. Oscar Albayalde troops the line during the 35th anniversary of the PNP Special Action Force at Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig City, June 5,2018.(Czar Dancel/MANILA BULLETIN)
Director Noli Talino, commander of the Special Action Force (SAF) of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said the training programs on urban warfare is essential for government law enforcement units like the police commandos as they are the ones who are expected to respond on such a high level of threat.
“The SAF is continuously enhancing its capability to match up with the present situations after the Marawi siege. SAF is constrained to conduct more specialized training courses in urban warfare,” said Talino in his speech during the 35th SAF anniversary.
SAF is the most elite unit of the PNP. Its personnel is well-trained and well-equipped since its mandate is to do counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism.
During the Marawi City siege, however, the fighting was mostly done by the Armed Forces but a number of SAF personnel were also deployed and saw action against the Maute Group. At least two SAF commandos died in driving out the Maute Group following five months of fighting.
Talino said there is a need to conduct more trainings in anticipation of another attack in urban areas in the future.
It was recalled that several security experts have warned that local terror group sympathetic to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) might attack another city in Mindanao.
Recently, a handful of surviving members of Maute Group were also arrested in Metro Manila.
Currently, Talino said there are two SAF battalions currently undergoing training on Urban Counter Revolutionary Warfare Course.
“We have two ongoing UCRWC, one in Subic which is the 2nd SAF Special Action Battalion and another one in Zamboanga City, the 5th Special Action Battalion,” said Talino.
SAF was created in the early 1980s by then Philippine Constabulary General Fidel Ramos to respond to various threats.
From a mere battalion size elite force, SAF is expected to be composed of 13 battalions next year following the order of President Duterte to create five more battalions of SAF commandos.
“The recruitment is ongoing. The first batch will be undergoing commando training this month. They will all be well-equipped,” said PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde who used to be a SAF commando during his early years in the police service.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/06/05/police-commandos-to-undergo-urban-warfare-training-programs/
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