Sinas orders deployment of 226 new SAF troopers to Eastern Visayas to beef up anti-terrorism ops

(Eagle News) — Over 200 Special Action Forces members have been ordered deployed to Eastern Visayas upon their graduation on Friday, Feb. 6.

The Philippine National Police said PNP Chief Debold Sinas gave the instruction for the deployment of the 226 SAF troopers as part of the intensified internal security and anti-criminality operations in the area, complementing the national government program to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC).

The SAF members, who are graduates of SAF Commando Course Class 107 and Class 108.

Sinas said they would  be deployed to Forward Operating Bases of PNP-SAF in the Eastern Visayas provinces where internal security operations are currently underway against the communist New People’s Army.

They will also provide tactical support to local police units in anti-criminality operations, he added.

Earlier, a SAF trainee, Patrolman Marvin Allata, died during a test mission of the SAF Commando Course in Barangay Mabini, Basey, Samar.

He had been stabbed dead by a suspect he arrested for carrying a home-made shotgun.

The suspect was re-arrested after three days of manhunt operations.