By Jelly F. Musico
MANILA, March 4 (PNA) — President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday underscored the need to rebuild the capability of the Special Action Force (SAF) as an elite unit of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The President made comment after his three-hour meeting with SAF officials and troopers at the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) headquarters in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the meeting focused on a review of the operations or “Oplan Exodus” conducted to arrest international terror suspect Zulkifli bin Hir as “Marwan” and Basit Usman in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on January 25.
”This review is essential in identifying points for improvement in the conduct of similar operations,” Coloma said in a statement.
”The President emphasized the importance of rebuilding the capability of SAF as an elite unit of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on account of the vital role it performs,” he added.
The PCOO chief said President Aquino also pledged support for the acquisition of the needed equipments and resources for the SAF troopers.
President Aquino was accompanied by Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas, PNP Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo, NCRPO Chief Director Carmelo Valmoria, and Chief Superintendents Virgilio Moro Lazo and Noli Talino.
After the meeting, the President and accompanying officials proceeded to the SAF headquarters quadrangle to personally witness the turnover of command to Lazo, himself a former SAF trooper.
Lazo replaced acting SAF chief Talino who took over as officer-in-charge after Police Director Getulio Napenas Napenas was relieved over the bloody Mamasapano encounter.
Upon advice of former PNP chief Alan Purisima, Napenas carried out the Oplan Exodus without prior coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
The 392-man SAF team was able to neutralize Marwan but the SAF troopers encountered the combined forces of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).
The clash has resulted in the killing 44 SAF troopers whose firearms and personal belongings have been taken away by the lawless elements. (PNA)