MANILA - The Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) has formed the 5 new battalions ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte last March to boost counter-terrorism efforts and battle communist rebels.

PNP-SAF Director Chief Supt. Noli Taliño on Tuesday said they formed 5 battalions with around 1,920 personnel who are currently undergoing training in various camps.

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“Nabuo na. Ang huling nag take oath doon sa additional 5 battalions natin ay May 2nd. ‘Yung remaining 241 out of doon sa total na 5 battalions ay nakapag take oath na,” Taliño said.

“May sobra pa nga dahil mayroon tayong special quota at nadagdagan pa yung nagtake-oath nung May 2nd so a total of 441 yung nag take oath."

SAF recruits are training in Camp Vicente Lim in Calamba, Laguna, Camp Diego Silang in Aringay, La Union and in Magalang, Pampanga.

“Immediately after ng kanilang oath, tinurn-over natin sa PPSC yung sa NPTI yung National Police Training Institute at sila yung mag undertake ng basic recruit ng ating mga pulis," Taliño said.

“After 6 months, ang instruction nga ni Chief PNP ay wala nang OJT, so kukunin na namin agad yung ating recruit after 6 months and they will now undergo the basic foundation course ng PNP-SAF which is command training."

New recruits will also undergo a test mission for 3 months before becoming full-pledged SAF troopers.

“Ina-assess natin yung deployment, kasi itong 5 battalions, idi-distribute natin doon sa mga naunang mga battalions, plus we will activate yung 5 battallions, dahan-dahan. Yung mga ga-graduate ng commando kukuha tayo sa naunang battalions ililipat natin dito sa bago. So, idi-distribute natin yung luma na mga troopers atsaka itong bagong graduates,” Taliño said.

Upon his assumption as PNP chief, Director General Oscar Albayalde required all new police recruits to undergo SAF training.

Albayalde said new police officers need discipline before deployment to different regions.

He also said the PNP will implement standard training and will build new facilities where they can conduct their training.

Albayalde was a former PNP-SAF officer.

“Sa ngayon kasi parang company size lang iyung training unit natin para sa ganon ma-address yung instruction ni Chief PNP na lahat ng pulis ay dadaan sa SAF training,” Taliño said.

“Yung mga recruits ng ibang regions halimbawa at idadaan sa SAF para magtraining, ang gagawin natin dyan i-a-undergo natin sila ng enhanced basic ISO course which is ang recommendation ko nga diyan ay about 4 months para sa ganoon ay talagang mahasa sila doon sa kanilang skills on ISO training. So, lahat ng guma-graduate ng recruit whether graduate ito ng SAF or other PNP units, sila'y mag a-underrgo ng SAF training,” Taliño added.

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Taliño said they focused the training on urban warfare after the Marawi siege.

“Both AFP, PNP at yung SAF were involved doon sa Zambo siege so urban scenario din yun at itong Marawi ay ganoon din. Although itong mga PNP units natin meron silang SWAT team bawat istasyon ano pero dapat nga lahat ay ma-train on both close quarter battle na tinatawag o yung ating counter-revolutionary warfare,” Taliño added.

“So i-enhance natin yung training natin on urban counter-revolutionary warfare course, sniper training, EOD training, so lahat ng related sa urban scenario ay i-enhance natin yung training.”

The PNP-SAF is also requesting new graduates from the PNP Academy to undergo commando training.

“Hinihintay natin yung instruction kung itong bagong graduate ng PNPA 2017 ay magjo-join sila sa commando training na bubuksan natin,” Taliño said.