Caraga PNP now has a SWAT team

by Ben Serrano

     February 11, 2011

            BUTUAN CITY (PNA) -The Caraga Police Regional Office has now a Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT), the first in Caraga region that will respond to emergency or special threat or crisis situation

            This developed after some thirty rigorously selected policemen both mentally and physically who passed rigid training have just recently completed or graduated from the Special Weapons and Tactics Orientation Course at the Regional Special Training Unit 13 (RSTU 13) in Santiago, Agusan del Norte.

                 The recently graduated SWAT team is the first batch of SWAT unit in the region. The PNP leadership in the region plans to organize SWAT team in five PNP Provincial Police offices in the region that will also cover six cities. 

                 Caraga Police Regional Director P/Chief SUPT REYNALDO S. RAFAL, PhD, CEO VI said the SWAT team is now ready to respond to crisis or special threat situation. 

            Rafal said he develop specialized units in the region to handle crisis situations in a systematic manner. 

            Rafal claimed these units were trained to employ tactics that would not typically be used in other realms of police work.   

He clarified they will be called upon to handle a variety of types of crisis and special threat situations, adding that SWAT teams rely heavily on negotiations especially in hostage crisis to make sure the safety and security of the community in the region.  

Attending the SWAT Closing ceremonies and graduation rites the other day were Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand Amante Jr.; P/SSUPT ISAGANI FRANCISCO GENABE JR-Deputy Regional Director for Operations; RSTU 13 Training Manager PSUPT. ADOLPH C. ALMENDRA, RSTU 13 Assistant Training Manager P/CINSP REYNANTE NGOHO SIBAYTON; P/Chief Inspector NELLY TABORNAL VILLAGARCIA, Chief, Public Information Officer and other Police Commission Officers from the Police Regional Office.  

Rafal on the other hand emphasized that the SWAT team must also be equipped not only with physical and mental agility but right values, correct decision making skills capabilities.(PNA/Ben Serrano)