NAPOLCOM OKs creation of five more SAF battalions

The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) has approved the creation of five additional battalions for the Philippine National Police's elite Special Action Force (SAF).

The NAPOLCOM en banc issued Resolution No. 2018-027 on February 2 and allowed the establishment of five additional battalions to reinforce the existing seven Special Action Battalions (SABs).

The SABs according to NAPOLCOM are mandated to "conduct long-range reconnaissance/surveillance operations deep into enemy territories through infiltration and extrication by air, land or sea."

The battalion is also tasked to "provide support to other PNP units in their efforts to fight against syndicated crime groups."

In a statement, NAPOLCOM said on Wednesday that the recent move was also in compliance with President Rodrigo Duterte's order to "beef up and enhance the operational capability of the PNP-SAF in curbing criminality and terrorism."

Attorney Rogelio Casurao, NAPOLCOM's vice chairman and executive officer, said that the additional SABs would allow the PNP to "effectively carry out" its mandate of actively supporting the Armed Forces of the Philippines in terms of "internal security operations for the suppression of insurgency and other serious threats to national security."

NAPOLCOM on February 2 also approved Resolution No. 2018-025 which restructured the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to attain a "highly organized investigative unit" of the PNP.

NAPOLCOM also agreed to the renaming of the Regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Units to CIDG Regional Field Units.  —NB, GMA News